Steve Ullathorne

Bill Hicks was probably the most influential American comic of his generation, with his influence over the genre increasing exponentially following his death from cancer in 1994.

On paper, it seems only a fool would write a show of ‘new’ material and then conjure Hicks down from heaven to perform it. But Chas Early and Richard Hurst manage it in this stunningly well-crafted show.Yes, Early’s impersonation is immaculate and yes, he does look a little like Hicks with his bowl haircut and chubby features. But it is the quality of the material that astounds.

Of course, such is the path of history that many of the things Hicks ranted about in the early nineties - the war in Iraq, President Bush - have sadly also been resurrected at the start of the 21st century. But that only gives Early and Hurst an anchor upon which to build their material. They have to come up with the rest - and how they do.

The script consists of angry, powerful polemic, delivered with real passion. It is somewhat ironic that, with few exceptions, none of the actual stand-ups at the festival are delivering material as powerful as this. It is satirical, it is well-researched, it is astonishingly good.