Words: Calum Baxter
Image: Rebecca Need-Menear 

5 stars

Any old people reading this? Any young people reading this? “It’s good to be young” is Finlay Christie’s opening gambit to his stand-up set. As the youngest ever winner of the prestigious So You Think You’re Funny? competition at aged 19, who can blame him for his sentiment?

In a packed Monkey Barrel MB4 venue the atmosphere is electric. With screens on either side of the room, Finlay Christie takes us through an irreverent lecture detailing what it takes to succeed in today’s society as a young person. First on the agenda was inviting audience members to share their neurodivergences and then following on from that, their traumas. Other topics included the importance of sexual fluidity as well as establishing mixed race relationships “as seen in the adverts”. Finlay touches on challenging issues with a wry smile and deft touch weaving in self-aware stories of his privileged upbringing, focusing on his aspirations to become a burgeoning grime artist with his mates at private school, as well as mentioning travelling anecdotes in Scandinavia which brought him down a peg or two.

The laughs come in thick and fast. Finlay’s material is intelligent, well-structured and gag heavy with a penchant for excellent wordplay and call backs. He commands the stage very well and engages with audience members articulately and with sensitivity. Highly recommend.

Finlay Christie: I Deserve This
Monkey Barrel Comedy MB4
22:40
3 – 12, 14 – 25 August