Eleanor Tiernan- Trouble

Eleanor Tiernan tells her audience early in her set that the term 'comedian' should only be attached to people who make you laugh. If we accept her advice, then the Irishwoman probably shouldn't be applying the label to herself.

The show concerns the last 18 months in the comic's life, charting events such as an unfortunate trip to San Francisco to meet a bipolar friend, and the purchase of a wheelchair on eBay. Whilst some of her jokes show promise, her poor delivery means that the tales are more like unfunny short stories than comedic vignettes.

Throughout her set, Tiernan's nerves seem to get the better of her. Her delivery is awkward, and there are a number of pauses during which she looks like she might just give up. Likewise, there are a few instances where Tiernan tells jokes on more touchy subjects—such as disability and having a black taxi driver—that come across as slightly offensive, in contrast to the ironically shocking approach that she was probably aiming for.

There are some laughs from the audience, but it is hard to avoid the conclusion that these are out of sympathy rather than genuine appreciation of talent. When Tiernan tells her audience about a couple of gigs gone wrong, it’s not hard to see why these disasters happened. As the set moves towards the end and the 32 year-old inadvertently asks the audience if they find her set funny, there’s the urge just to be honest, and say no.