REVIEW: Comedian Mark Thomas at The Stand in Edinburgh

FOR those who don't know what he does, ask your parents.

So says the publicity blurb for the political comedian's latest show, The Gaffa Tapes, which is on at The Stand in Edinburgh throughout August.

Mark has been doing stand-up for 39 years and has recently fallen in love but any hint that he's softened with age - and you can see how delighted he is to get a cheer for being 61 - is quickly dispelled by his insistence that we should go out and punch Nazis.

Known for his anti-Tory stance, you may think Labour's landslide general election win would dampen down that fire but there's still plenty of vitriol in the tank for the outgoing Conservatives - "Liz Truss gives new meaning to the phrase 'artificial intelligence'" - as well as Nigel 'bin juice' Farage, Donald Trump, tax dodging billionaires, racists and fascists, and a healthy dose of scepticism about Keir Starmer's party.

Mark Thomas' new stand up show is on in Edinburgh throughout August. (Image: Tracey Moberly)

After a gloriously profane, furious and hilarious rant lasting what seems like five minutes, he pauses and takes a breath and adds: "I could work on cruise ships if I wanted to."

There's plenty of politics - he's an activist after all - but the show is brilliant, absurdist fun too, we were also treated to a Vegan-inspired heckle and an odd, unscripted detour around Lewes.

He's back doing stand up after a highly successful run at the Fringe last year performing the one man play England & Son, which won six awards, went on tour in the UK and abroad - and left him skint.

A busy man, in his time he has won eight awards for performing, three for human rights work ... and one he invented for himself.

He made six series of the Mark Thomas Comedy Product and three Dispatches for Channel 4, made five series of the Manifesto for Radio 4, written five books and four playscripts, curated and authored two art exhibitions with artist Tracey Moberly and was commissioned to write a show for the Royal Opera House.

Mark has forced one politician to resign, changed laws on tax and protest, become the Guinness Book of Records world-record holder for number of protests in 24 hours, taken the police to court three times and won, walked the 724km length of the Israeli Wall in the West Bank and, generally, mucked about trying to have fun and upset (shall we say) the right people.

And he can sum it up better than I can: "You either like me or you don't. If you don't know what I do, ask an old person.

"I rant, tell jokes, sing some songs, swear a lot and urge the audience to join the comedic equivalent of the Red Army Faction.

"Basically don't come if you're a Tory - unless you actually want to be a hostage.

"Everyone else welcome. Everyone else loved."

Mark Thomas, The Gaffa Tapes, is at The Stand Comedy Club on York Place in Edinburgh from August 9 to 11 and 13 to 26.

There's more information and ticket details at: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/mark-thomas-gaffa-tapes He'll also be back on tour at the Stand on October 12.