Review: Frank Skinner: 30 Years Of Dirt (Gielgud Theatre)

Review by Daz Gale

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Football might not be coming home but one of the co-creators of that timeless earworm of a song is, as Frank Skinner brings his latest show ’30 Years Of Dirt’ back to the West End, following an acclaimed run last year. Would he score with this show or would the audience find themselves going home in tears?

Following two sold-out runs, in the West End and a sold-out, extensive national tour, Frank Skinner’s ’30 Years Of Dirt’ returns to the Gielgud for 3 weeks only. If you’re unfamiliar with Frank Skinner, he has been a regular fixture on stage and screen for 30 years now (hence the title – a play on a lyric from ‘Three Lions’). From presenting his own show, working with David Baddiel, and hosting Room 101, younger readers may know him from appearing on the first series of Taskmaster. With all of his many credits over the decades, there is one consistency and that is in his comedy. As someone who has been a fan of his TV work for a while but had never experienced his wit in person before, I was excited to see how funny he was when the cameras stopped rolling. Suffice to say. I was not disappointed.

Frank Skinner’s comedy is so effortless in its execution, he gives off the impression that every joke is made up on the spot. While there is a certain amount of improvisation required, that is obviously not the case for the show in itself, though I did wonder how rigid the content of the show is, such is the spontaneous nature of Frank’s comedic style. This is a testament to Frank’s skill as a comic, leaving the audience in safe hands with an ease of style that hooks us all in from his opening moments on stage. With references to current events, it began with a genius comparison of people paying to see Les Miserables next door (the irony that I was heading there after this matinee was not lost on me) when they could look out the window and see it for free – a nod to the riots that plagued the country last week This may seem in bad taste in the hands of other comedians but Skinner aims to never offend, only entertain. Even if the odd knob joke does get a bit near the knuckle.

After a brief but equally funny act from warm-up Steve Hall, Frank Skinner began his set by walking on stage, pointing out the empty seats and sighing “I used to be massive”. This self-deprecating nature endeared him to an enraptured audience immediately, even if a run in a theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue is nothing to be sniffed at. Frank tore down the walls between performer and audience instantly, talking to various audience members and including them in his material throughout while responding to their sometimes surprising responses. He also demonstrated a brilliant way to deal with hecklers, pointing them out as members of a hecklers class he teaches, naming them, and making up a fictional bio each time they dared to match wits with him.

As for the material itself, the hit rate was exceptional. A master craftsman in writing jokes, the punchlines had me howling with laughter from start to finish. With his natural storytelling style, his delivery of seemingly ordinary lines (including one genius one regarding a thesaurus – funnier than it sounds, trust me) always garnered a huge reaction, though this wasn’t always immediate as several jokes took moments for the audience to realise. When they did, though, the payoff was worth the wait.

Everyone from Phillip Schofield, Joe Biden, and Simon Cowell were at risk of Frank’s wit, whether it was stories from Frank’s own life or throwaway jokes. There was an element of truth in ’30 Years Of Dirt’ as Frank shared stories and awkward moments from his own life, including one toe-curling incident with legendary musical theatre writer Tim Rice. His ability to find the funny in everyday situations, simultaneously making them seem relatable while being very specific to him, was second to none. A couple of moments where he shared the origin of jokes proved a fascinating insight into a man at the top of his game.

Frank may have joked throughout that his advancing age meant people no longer wanted him to do comedy on TV, but this stage audience was ready and willing to enjoy a man on exceptionally fine form. He talked about what a great story it would be for the audience if he died on his arse during the show – sadly, we all left that theatre without that story to tell. Instead, we are sure to tell of the brilliantly hilarious show we saw. A natural storyteller and an effortless comedian, in a speedy and non-stop 90 minutes, Frank Skinner proved what a genius he is in the world of comedy and why he was awarded an MBE for services to entertainment in one of the funniest trips to the theatre I have had this year. This may have been the first time I have seen Frank Skinner live but, if I have my way, it certainly won’t be the last. Here’s to the next 30 years.

Frank Skinner: 30 Years Of Dirt plays at the Gielgud Theatre until 24th August with further dates around the UK following this run. Dates and tickets at www.frankskinnerlive.com/