After two sell-out years and news of a TV pilot on the way, The Ginge, The Geordie and The Geek had a lot to live up to. Fortunately this year’s crop of extremely silly, often surreal and always funny sketches should satisfy most expectations.

The trio fly relentlessly through scene after scene of organised madness, making the 1 hour show seem very short indeed.

The sketches are not always entirely original, with much of the subject matter having been parodied before, but such is the rapport of this trio, and so spot on is their delivery, that even routines as overplayed as man’s fear of commitment or lack of understanding of the female psyche, seem somehow fresh. There are some quite inspired sketches that stick in mind; the old men’s competitive duck-feeding was a cracker and the lonely referee a personal favourite.

Overall though, this show relies less on the construction of the sketches, and more on the abilities of the performers and Graeme Rooney, Paul Charlton and Kevin O’Loughlin are more than capable, complimenting each other perfectly on stage. 

The Ginge and co. are also quite family friendly. I’m sure there were a couple of expletives during the show but overall their appeal will be suitably broad. If there was to be one complaint it would be that this is little different from previous offerings and is perhaps at the risk of becoming a little formulaic.      

So, while the Ginge the Geordie and the geek may not win any awards for originality, they will continue to do what they do very well indeed.

The Ginge, The Geordie And The Geek

Just the Tonice at The Caves

Until 28 August, 7.45pm