At The Cracker Comedy Festival, Sydney

May 2009

More Al Pitcher videos

New Zealander Al Pitcher started comedy in 1999, reaching the finals of the So You Think You’re Funny? new talent competition. He then decided to capitalise on his growing reputation – by becoming a vegetable picker in Naas, Ireland. A couple of years later he returned to stand up, making the final of the Daily Telegraph Open Mic awards.

Since then he has become a regular fixture at the UK’s top clubs. In 2004 he made his solo Edinburgh fringe debut, and now has four full-length shows to his name.

He was invited to appear at Montreal’s prestigious Just for Laughs Festival in 2007 and has performed at both the Melbourne and New Zealand comedy festivals.

Pitcher was also the voice of the Fosters Lager commercials, has written for BBC Radio 1 and is an experienced TV warm-up.

Al Pitcher Picture Show
Live Review
Bloomsbury Theatre

‘This could just be an overweight ginger bloke from New Zealand showing holiday snaps of a place where you live.’ So Al Pitcher warns at the start of his current show, a PowerPoint presentation of snaps he’s taken during the day of the gig.

Indeed, for some stretches this is pretty much exactly what we do get as Pitcher desperately tries to ad lib something out of often ordinary pictures: a Greggs store, a few kids arsing about for the camera, or shoppers milling around. He tries hard, but there’s often not much to say apart from an offhand glib observation, as attempts to impose comic meaning on the mundane. There’s a limit to just how much you can spin, for example, a whiteboard listing tickets for London tourist attractions or a picture of workmen standing around idly.

That, though, is the risk of a show that he reminds us is a one-off; created just for tonight. Sometimes the inspiration isn’t going to come on cue.

Sensibly, though, the day’s snaps are interspersed with some of the best from his travels round the UK, and indeed the world. India, Australia, Wolverhampton – they’re all here. Having been filtered, these images do provide more consistent laughs, sometimes in Pitcher’s commentary, sometimes in the image itself. He certainly owes a debt to a few creative graffitists around the world, or the prankster who put up a plaque in the ‘Democratic Republic of Galway’.

Easy-going Pitcher takes the rough with the smooth, though, revelling in the loose structure he’s set himself. He enjoys bantering with the audience, encouraging them to contribute back, and he certainly creates some comic highs as he winds up the front-row punter with the audacity to need the toilet, or probes a little too deeply into the love life of a girl a few seats along.

He’s got an open, laid-back demeanour that works well with such fluidity; although its sometimes at odds with material where he appears to be trying too hard. A brief flight of fantasy about midgets, for example, seems unnatural compared to the whimsical conviction someone like Ross Noble or Noel Fielding might bring to a similar routine. And his constant affirmations of the show’s supposedly ‘uplifting’ message seem an unwarranted hard sell for the feelgood factor, when it’s really just a mix of daft and everyday photos.

Ignoring that, there are some playful pieces that provide good chuckles. There’s a very nice take on the New Zealand-Australia rivalry, a ‘what’s the deal with bus shelters?’ bit that overcomes its initial blandness to become a fine example of observational stand-up and the myriad of health and safety notices he’s spotted provide a few gems.

Pitcher seems to have taken a quantity over quality approach, though – chuck enough material at the audience, and some of it will stick. As a result the show’s too long and decidedly scrappy, with plenty of lulls. But also enough peaks to keep proceedings entertaining.

It wasn’t polished, but as the audience knew why, they happily to bask in that unique shared experience he promised from the get-go. Rather than a meticulously premeditated comedy show, Al Pitcher’s Picture Show feels more like having a laugh with an old mate who you’re so happy to see again you can readily overlook the dips in conversation.

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The Al Pitcher Picture Show is absolutely brilliant. I didn't stop laughing for hours! Go and see him if you get the chance!

Matt, July 2009

Saw him last night in Darlington with the 'Al Pithcer Picture Show' absolutely loved it. I go to a lot of comedy shows and this was one of the best that i have seen! I'll definitely be going to see him again next time he is in the North East,

Sarah, March 2009

Great show with a cracking concept that can be taken to any town or city - highly recommended

Julie, January 2009

Went to Al Pitcher: Idiot Wind in Sydney last night. Was wicked to see a comedian having fun and interacting with the crowd. Highly recommended

Melanie, April 2008

Saw his tour show in Harrogate, thought it was brilliant, the crowd loved it. Will see him again.

Wayne, February 2008

I laughed shitloads at this guy

James, January 2008

Just seen him do the warm up for Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, he was brilliant , had the audience and cast in stiches. Fantastic

Dave, November 2007

I was blown away by this guy on the weekend at Komedia, never heard of him before but he was top drawer

Steve, November 2007

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