Review by Steve Bennett

We don’t see much of veteran stand-up Dominic Holland on the circuit any more. Perhaps he’s too busy writing films that, by his own admission, probably won’t get made, or perhaps because his son Tom is playing Billy Elliot in the West End, the Holland family hardly need the extra cash.

At this Latitude appearance, ahead of a half-run at the Edinburgh Fringe next month, he showed some of the distinctive flair that made him one of Britain’s most astute observational acts… as well as some signs that he’s a little gig-rusty.

Being a 43-year-old father of four, you can perhaps forgive him for not wanting to hit the local Giggle Garage every night of the week. But his family has given some of his best routines, even amid a crowded field of ‘hapless dad’ chunks as the once-young vanguard of comedians advance into middle age.

Holland’s segment about getting his lads changed in a cramped swimming pool cubicle has the sort of first-hand frustration that can’t be faked, while his depictions of picking out dog shit from a youngster’s trainers invokes tears of laughter and recognition.

Not all of the set is this assured. There’s well-worn jokes about chavs wearing tracksuits but hardly looking sporting, while sometimes he overplays the grumpy old man card, muttering about new-fangled phones as if he’d only ever seen them with dials on until now.

But even then he eventually winkles out the laughs, even if occasionally he has to address the fact a few of the punchlines en route don’t quite hit the mark.

Review date: 25 Jul 2010
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett