Hoots @ Nicolson Square
Aug 7-30
19:55
Without a doubt, Richard Stott has massive potential. There was a sequence in his show where he uncannily enter’d the very minds of actual women—a place where even the most intrepid male explorers have balk’d away from in terror. It was a conversation he’d overheard in a coffee shop, & the way he brought a group of process-a-member-of-the-group’s-trauma-supporting friends to life, & the trio of women in the seats behind me finally to fits of laughter, was spectacular.
The rest of the show, alas, lacks the same punch, altho’ you are there with him every step of the way – he’s very engaging. shiny nuggets Like most shows at the Fringe, Streets Won’t Forget is evolving on its feet, something Richard shared with me after bumping into him in the street. He’s only just split up with his fiancée, like six weeks ago, & as he tried to make light of the situation, find comedy in it, you could actually see him choking with emotion. Bit too early, mate—we’ve come to laugh out loud, not to share in an existential crisis.
But I guess, again, it’s just that gentle sentimentalism which ripples under Richard’s eager stride. A couple of months ago he appeared on the Making Creativity Pay podcast and talked quite candidly about the emotional side of being a Fringe comedian—especially the fairly soul-destroying business of trying to persuade strangers to come to your show. He said people can actually tell when he’s unhappy flyering, and described repeatedly being confronted with strangers effectively asking him, “Are you funny though?”
But that’s Richard thro’ & thro’, a very human comedian from Hull — where girls generally have boyfriends who work at Kwik Fit — finding his feet in the race for comedy success. He’s jogging at the moment, but if he focuses on his best observational stuff—that girl stuff was practically shamanic visionary-level—he could do very well.
Watching Richard is a genuine spectacle. There’s an actor’s training underneath, but also the instincts of somebody who discovered rather late that getting a room to erupt with laughter was more satisfying than acting had ever been. He has since appeared on Comedy Central Live and ITV2’s Stand Up Sketch Show, landed jokes in the Fringe’s annual best-joke lists, and reached the 2026 UK Pun Championship final. I’m sure the show’s, “liquorice is dangerous—people die of all sorts now” would have been in there—very good!
“They can because they think they can,” said th Roman poet Virgil; & joke-by-joke, pun-by-pun, show-by-show, Richard’s ammo belt is swelling, his star is slowly rising. & don’t forget, mate, there’s plenty of fish swimming out there to not only cuddle & stuff, but also quirk-observe in detail & turn to comedy gold.
Damo
