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Carl Donnelly: Shall We All Just Kill Ourselves?

A warm hour about contradictions and adlibbed fare on seagulls
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Carl Donnelly: Shall We All Just Kill Ourselves?

A warm hour about contradictions and adlibbed fare on seagulls

A couple of years ago this London comedian told stories on the top of a double-decker bus and he's keeping the unusual venues theme going, performing in the round to a crowd of 50 in a wooden yurt beside an underpass. As yelping seagulls and passing performers in underwear accidentally distract from Carl Donnelly's new show, he works it all into his set, looking relaxed as he updates us on his personal journey. He's spoken openly in the past about phases of bad mental health and is interested in other people's modern-day coping mechanisms.

Smokers of weed vapes, gym addicts, binge drinkers, flat earthers and fist bumpers all get a lightly scathing once-over from Donnelly, who tries to sound non-judgmental as he assesses how much he reckons it's all working (clearly not that much, despite him saying over and over, 'I would never judge'). But the contradictions are what he's all about: he wrestles with the fact he grew up on a council estate but now plays golf and goes to farmers' markets; or the fact that he used to do drugs (he turned vegan after a DMT epiphany) but still affectionately tuts at his friends for needing emotional crutches. Hypocrisy, worthiness, optimism and being bleak blend together in a warm, open hour.

Heroes @ The SpiegelYurt, until 25 Aug, £7 (£5) in advance or donations at the venue.

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