Rock n Roll Politics presented by Steve Richards

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Billed as standup comedy, Rock n Roll Politics sees political commentator and Independent columnist Steve Richards bring his assorted political tales to the Fringe. While there are certainly laughs to be found in this gentle hour and Richards does seem to have specifically included some standup conventions (an extraordinarily polite audience interaction section is memorably awkward) Rock n Roll Politics is more accurately described as a relaxed lecture.

Richards’ presentation of humorous anecdotes may lack the boldness and comic focus ordinarily required of standups, but he more than compensates with absorbing storytelling held together nicely by a structured argument. Coming across very personably, he delivers tales accumulated from his career covering UK politics with a welcoming tone.

One of the most obvious strengths of Rock n Roll Politics is the wealth of content presented; from Harold Wilson to Gordon Brown, Richards illustrates the characters of the political world in unique detail, while his rendering of Peter Mandelson as a vampiric presence around Westminster raises laughs. Underpinning these stories is a thoughtful reflection on the state of modern politics and in particular how it relates to today’s evolving media landscape. Richards’ underlying thesis asks how such strong political characters can fail to deliver when the pressure is raised and what role the media might play in this. Again, he undermines his supposed Rock n Roll standup status by conducting a Q&A at the end, but if you have an interest in insider politics this is certainly an entertaining hour.