Robin Ince: Struggle For Existence review

North of the station, through a riddle of alleyways, up a hundred stairs, past a tiny bar, Robin Ince has a lucky room in hysterics. Struggle for Existence is his 'overflow show,' where the thoughts he hasn't been able to fit into his three other shows spill out, unfiltered and undirected and absolutely hilarious.

This is everything the Fringe should be. A tiny, stuffed, sweaty, un-soundproofed room where one of our most interesting working stand-ups can say whatever he damn well likes. Ince reels off wonderful, rambling stories, packed with sharp observations, quirky details and wonderful one-liner asides. Whilst he seems to be recalling random anecdotes and developing ideas spontaneously, the jokes are so densely packed, so rich and so deeply thought through that it delivers more laughs and ideas than the most tightly scripted set. We move from old Vincent Price films, through Shropshire to the Illuminati paintings and the various voices he uses to talk to himself. Somehow it hangs together.

Guest Wil Hodgson seems uncharacteristically uncomfortable at first, as he's so caught up by Ince's furious energy that he starts delivering his trademark tales of life in Chippenham at a frantic pace that really doesn't suit them or his style. But as he relaxes and slows it down, his warm, thoughtful material shines. It's a different kind of energy and the variety in pace is welcome.

The force and speed with which Ince delivers his ideas is exhausting, and with guests of Hodgson's quality (and Ince's uncanny impression of Stewart Lee) this feels like a huge, rich gig. It's free to get in, but make sure you're queuing at least thirty minutes early to get a seat. It is absolutely worth it.

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Robin Ince's Struggle for Existence listing