Sam Haygarth @ Just the Tonic, Mash House

An urgent and hilarious hour tackling the climate crisis from Sam Haygarth

Review by James Gladdis | 15 Aug 2019
  • Sam Haygarth @ Just the Tonic, Mash House

Sam Haygarth starts off by letting everyone know that Climate Crisis isn’t a comedy show. He’s wrong, of course, because the show is consistently hilarious. At the same time, he’s not wrong – Climate Crisis is a poignant and often devastating hour about the single worst catastrophe we face today. It’s also a deeply personal show about a young man’s evolution, from being uncertain of his purpose to rapidly having responsibility thrust upon him.

As a performer, Haygarth’s closest analogue would be Hasan Minhaj of Daily Show and Patriot Act fame. Both share a similar delivery, punctuating many jokes with a no-frills reminder that what they’re talking about is incredibly serious. They are also both insanely charismatic, which makes it wholly believable that Haygarth became the face of a mass political movement in a relatively short space of time.

Climate Crisis is also carefully constructed with a number of callbacks, jokes and puns that help take the edge off the otherwise serious subject matter. Haygarth punctuates the hour by telling us just how tired he is, and despite this being just one show of many you can tell the tears in his eyes are all too real. They will be every time. The man is emotionally exhausted, as well as physically, and he needs help. Our help, everyone’s help. 

Although Climate Crisis is hilarious throughout, it becomes apparent early on that it is also a desperate plea from a young man who is exhausted not only by the work he has taken on, but also from the apathy encountered along the way. He needs, desperately, for us to take up this call to arms.


Sam Haygarth: Climate CrisisJust the Tonic @ The Mash House (Just the Attic), until 25 Aug, 6.35pm, Free/PWYW