“I’m excited this year to be doing a type of comedy show different from all my previous shows.”
WHO: John-Luke Roberts
WHAT: “JLR returns with his first new show in four years. Hilarious stand-up about the human condition, nearly dying and what it’s like to have an endoscopy on Remembrance Sunday at exactly 11am. Hilarious, though, that’s the main thing. Some poems too. Aiming for at least five-to-six laughs a minute, so about three hundred total which is pretty good actually. Big accessible laughs too, while not selling out on my alternative roots. Come on, you’ll like it. Fringe Legend Award winner. ***** (List). ***** (Fest). **** (Guardian). **** (Telegraph).”
WHERE: Monkey Barrel 4 at Monkey Barrel Comedy (Venue 515)
WHEN: 14:10 (60 min)
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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
It’s something like my 20th time, and I’ll be doing my 11th solo show. Two years ago I remounted a retrospective of my 10 shows so far, which was kind of a thrilling walk through my Edinburgh memories. I’m excited this year to be doing a type of comedy show different from all my previous shows.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
That I am going to die one day. I had a scary time in November – I was coughing up blood, and went to A and E to find out I had multiple blood clots in my lungs, which can be lethal. Then a friend died towards the beginning of this year. When I say I learnt I was going to die, obviously, I knew on a sort of intellectual level that death would happen at some point, but this year I’ve actually had to face up to it. So I’m trying to write a really mainstream show about that, which is good actually, because death is a very mainstream topic because we’re all going to die.
Tell us about your show.
I wrote it, I’m producing it, and I’m performing it. It’s a stand-up show about the human condition and it’s got an awful lot of words in it (like terrifying miracle of consciousness, Jamie’s Italian, colonoscopy, goblins, chutzpah, pulmonary embolism, Go Ape, Jung, moths, Skechers and twinge). I’ve done a bunch of WIPs, but Edinburgh will be the proper debut.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
Too much to mention really – comedy wise, I’m excited to see Bec Hill’s work in progress, and Abby Wimbaugh’s work in progress, and Lil Wenker’s show, and Jonno’s show, and Kate Cheka’s show, and Lara Ricote’s show. I’d also recommened Jonathon Oldfield’s show and Phil O’Shea’s show, but then I directed them.
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