Mark Thomas @ Norwich Playhouse

For the uninitiated, there's no one quite like Mark Thomas. Part political activist, part stand up comic, and these days, part self-confessed miserable old git, he's taken on everything and everyone from Coca-Cola to the Metropolitan Police, and won. Well, made them look like twats anyway, which is essentially winning in my book. So, I was pleased to see that he was returning to Norwich Playhouse with his new show, Trespass, and went along for a look.

 Trespass is based on the premise that, in an ever privatised world, even space and freedom of movement is now being taken from the masses by the corporate and the rich. This might sound heavy going to some of us, and I won't spoil the show by going into detail, but ultimately is about standing up (no pun intended) to the Man, and saying "I don't fucking think so!" but, in this case, by way of a mass Shaun the Sheep demo, BBQ’s on the Thames, public swear-a-thons, and other such council-baiting ridiculous hilarity.

The thing about Mark Thomas is that no matter how surreal, bizarre or down right piss-takey his methods of subversion are they pale in comparison to the ludicrous nature of his targets once he's held them up to his comedic torchlight. You see, he's undeniably funny, but he's also got a fucking good point or two, and his hilarious, yet poignant style makes the mixture of political discourse and establishment-bothering mischief work. His wit and charisma allows the audience to laugh at even the most serious topics whilst taking home the message without feeling chastised and lectured. It is Friday night after all, for fuck sake.