Chris Coltrane: There's No Heroes Left Except All of Us

Political comedy is often the third rail of satire at the Fringe: deadly to the touch, but it’s where all the power is. Comedians including Mark Thomas, Bridget Christie and Josie Long have shown that we need commentators to pick through corruption more than ever, to educate as well as entertain, rouse as well as ridicule. Chris Coltrane joins the ranks again this year to burlesque UKIP, hedgefunds, North Korea, austerity, clicktivism and corporatisation: a litany of injustices.

Coltrane often presents an uncomplicated didactic message: left-wing good, right-wing bad. Within that he outlines his own steadfast activism, from invading tax-dodging phone companies as part of UK Uncut to flyposting the offices of Amazon. And largely, this gig is a joyous experience in which Coltrane celebrates the power of protest and demonstration. But, this could perhaps be even more euphoric if Coltrane stopped dedicating portions of his set to simply marvelling at the capacity of activism. At times, it can feel a touch self-congratulatory.

One wishes that Coltrane would instead dive headfirst into certain topics with greater analytical dexterity. He discusses the death of investigative journalism, but never really gets beyond the superficial. Without doubt, Coltrane’s delivery is filled with passion, honesty and purpose. His is a robust, tenacious voice at the Fringe that conveys the importance of comedy with a conscience. If anything, he just needs greater precision.