Rob Beckett: Rob Beckett's Summer Holiday

Review by Roxane Hudon | 13 Aug 2012

Family is always a great source for comedy, unless you’re one of those weirdos with a completely functional one. The amiable Rob Beckett, a relative newcomer to the comedy scene, uses his upbringing amidst a large, ‘chavvy’ family in East South London to deliver an hour of charming and amusing stories about his childhood and how it’s influenced his life. Don’t expect any anecdotes about hot, summer destinations; his show is simply titled ‘Summer Holiday,’ because his working-class family doesn’t believe being a comedian is a ‘real job.’

Having a won a few newcomer awards, Beckett is a natural, charismatic and confident performer with a self-deprecating sense of humour and a giant, contagious smile (I’m going to go ahead and say he has the whitest teeth of the Fringe). However, some of his jokes and observations are quite obvious, like what working class people read and so on. I find myself laughing the most at the photos of his family he shares. On a related note (no spoilers!), he keeps the best for last with a great finale that you will definitely want to stick around for. 

Rob Beckett: Rob Beckett's Summer Holiday, Pleasance Courtyard, until 27 August (not 14), 18:00, £10.00/ £8.50 http://www.robbeckettcomedy.com/