★★★★
As Joshua is given a fireman’s lift (ooh er) onto his stage by a strapping man, it serves as an image for the hour of comedy that’s about to unfold.
Beginning with a stream of filthy gross-out jokes, all delivered with Robertson’s trademark cheeky grin and disarming childish giggle, this paves way for a narrative that is as compelling as overhearing your neighbour’s outrageous gossip.
Joshua is unconcerned by personal disclosure. We get the whole private life, that of him and his wife inviting other people into the bedroom, namely a man called Bob, who Joshua ends up falling for. Genuine discussion of our sex lives is perhaps one of the most uncomfortable topics for audiences at the fringe, perhaps outside of disability. Imagine the Daily Mail visiting Robertson’s show!
For all the jokes about cum and big dongs, there is actually a tenderness and sadness to Robertson’s confessional. It seems inevitable that Robertson’s realisations about his sexuality has upended his family and his marriage. Joshua’s reasoning for why a relationship with a man is better as a disabled man is sound ‘You get be to me taken care of and also wanked off’.
Joshua is a great comedic talent, but also completely unapologetic, he gives no fucks, which I love, especially with the awkwardness of other stand-ups. He may not fit the sanitised ‘disabled stand-up’ you’re used to, but actually, that’s vital.
Joshua Robertson: Enable Me is on at Bar 50 until the 18th August
