★ ★ ★ ★
Stand-up is a craft, like any other, but in the age of Netflix specials and stadium tours, we are overwhelmed by the white male stand-up pontificating as if some sage imparting vital knowledge. Mark Grimshaw is painfully aware of this, rejecting that mould in favour of something fresh and inviting. In their debut solo hour at the fringe, they hang their often hilarious routines on a medical report of an autism assessment.
Jokes come thick and fast from this self-deprecating northern comedian. Yet for all their modesty, they’re completely self-assured. Detailed and complex ideas converge throughout the set; complaints about train signs, trips to DisneyWorld, being single and working in retail are analysed in hyper-focused detail.
There’s a lot of autistic culture in this show, stuff for autistic people; which seems rare as it often feels autistic acts have to pitch to a non-autistic audience. Mark still uses their material to subtly (and not so subtly) educate their audience about the autistic experience, but never using autism as some kind of novelty, some gimmick for ‘normals’ to point and laugh, they own their audience.
We were treated to ‘bonus material’ after the main show, where Mark went into some very controversial territory. I tensed at the conceit, not knowing where it was going, yet they navigated the alienating material deftly. They showed that disabled people should have a right to talk about our history through a comedic lens. I wonder how other’s will react?
I am sure our community is proud to have them as one of our own, a very funny autistic comedian, an accidental activist challenging the stereotype that we can’t be funny, but also unapologetic in raging against ablism and bigotry.
Mark Grimshaw: Hit Me With Your Autistic Canons Gait Lower 17:45 Aug 6-28 (free – non ticketed)
