Arts > Comedy

BUG Norwich 17

Norwich Theatre Playhouse

26/06/17

Adam Buxton, Norwich resident, comedy maestro and all round top chap was back at the Playhouse last week with two performances of his latest BUG show. It's a decade since BUG first began, and in that time Adam has shared hundreds of great videos and great YouTube comments with his eager Norwich fans, as well as shows at the BFI in London.

His usual affable style is completely adorable, confident and relaxed, and his ability to make us all feel like he's just invited us round his to watch some cool videos makes for a lovely evening. There is less of the comedy-voiced comments reading this time, which makes me a bit sad, but it just means we get to see more videos..and what videos.

From Katy Perry's post apocalyptic theme park in Chained To The Rhythm to the all time classic Work It from Missy Elliott, there is much here to be admired, discussed and mesmorised by. A real variety of music and styles, including one of my favourites by Max Cooper, using raindrops as an inspiration, and a hilarious Young Thug video which is essentially the story of how Young Thug didn't turn up to the shoot via a couple of Talking Heads beauties and the frankly sinister and yet heartwarming Hi Stranger. It's not often you can describe a video thus, but just watch it and see what your feels do. Very confusing.

In a world where technology is still developing, but perhaps not at the same rocketing pace of a few years ago, there's not too much here that strikes me with awe - of course OK Go's contribution this time is a contender, because they always are, and I very much enjoyed Chelou' use of illustrator Polly Nor's work on the femals image and insecurity. The show ends with a couple of very special Bowie treats, which I can't talk about because I was sworn to secrecy - suffice to say, they made us LOL and love Bowie even harder.

Dr Buckles always shows us a good time - not a rolling in the aisles sort of night, but an appreciative, cultured, cool, funny and gentle evening spent with likeminded folk and a guy with a great voice and a remote control. Nice one Buckles, see you in the autumn for more of this sort of thing.

BUG returns in October to Norwich Playhouse - tickets available here.