Mike Keat

A massively talented and very entertaining tool
You may know Edinburgh boy Mike Keat as one third of the creosote-tanned Cuban Brothers, and here he delivers a homecoming hero act in this first solo show. Actually, it’s hard to describe him as a hero really, watching him lunge and prance around in Lycra bodysocks and animal print shellsuit tops, but making a very entertaining tool of himself is one of his special skills.
A talented character comic, he introduces us to a few folks from his past. There’s Tantric Dougie, the East Lothian Buddhist who delivers spiritual wisdom in a uniquely uncouth way; a Bradford complainer who accosted Keat during his time as a Pontin’s entertainer (they nicknamed him Singer, because he had an ‘arse like a sewing machine’ in those days) and, of course, his body-popping sidekicks from the Cuban Brothers, who crop up in learn-to-dance-like-Sasha-Fierce video clips, as well as extras during the show. Admittedly, it may be slightly more enjoyable if you know where Haddington and Gilmerton are, but he’s on top form here, and his David Hasselhoff-and-me story at the end is the icing on the cake.
Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, until 30 Aug (not 22), 7.15pm, £10–£11.50 (£9–£10).