Pernille Haaland is an able comic, confident, and armed with clear opinions. Her newest show, ‘Not Related’ is very much a ‘get to know me’ comedy set, inspired by a post-35 existential crisis.
The title is a little bit of a red herring, referring to the regularity with which strangers ask if she is related to footballer Erling Braut Haaland. Over the set, however, Pernille reveals far more about who she is, rather than who she is not.
Post-20’s crises have long been rich hunting grounds for comics, so in that sense, Pernille isn’t reinventing the wheel. So if, at first, the laughs are rather polite, it’s likely down to the familiarity of the journey.
“Pernille Haaland is an able comic, confident, and armed with clear opinions.”
However, as the set progresses, and we learn more of Pernille’s rather fraught dating life, matters take a turn for the funnier, and less expected. The ‘pornification’ of the available male pool hasn’t helped matters. Combined with her comedic instincts, requests for certain sexual stunts are met with anarchic responses and outrageous results.
Haaland’s schtick on the effects of time upon her body also kicks up a notch, opening a new front upon which the war against ageing must be fought. The results of gravity might be familiar, but there’s more!
You can also expect witty rants against plastic surgery culture, and the incivility of women to other women. It’s all carried off with enough self-awareness to avoid excessive hypocrisy – to have zero hypocrisy would require her not to be human.
Sadly on my review, we lost the final 15-20 minutes of the set to a fire alarm. I have every confidence that Pernille was entering into the strongest section of the show, such was the trajectory of her material. Starting well is fine, but finishing strongly is more important.
So do go along, and report back to me on those final 20 minutes if you would – it will help with my FOMO.
Show Details
Venue: Gilded Balloon Patter House – Blether
Dates: Jul 31 Aug 1-26
Showtimes: 17:40
Running Time: 1 hour
Age Recommendation: 16+
Price: From £8 (concessions available)
Accessibility
The performance space, ‘Blether’ is wheelchair accessible.
The venue, ‘Gilded Balloon Patter House’, has provided the following accessibility information: ‘All bars and venues can be accessed by stairs or a building lift. Please speak to a member of staff on arrival if you require assistance or need to be entered into a venue early. For further access information about Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose visit our Accessibility Page: http://www.gildedballoon.co.uk/accessibility or email accessibility@gildedballoon.co.uk. Limited access to some parts of venue site, Wheelchair accessible toilet, No reserved accessible parking, On street blue badge parking, Assistance dogs welcome in all areas. Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose is situated on Chambers Street. The pavements are wide but become busy during the Festival. There are three stairs at the main entrance to the building. Those requiring use of the platform lift enter the building approximately three metres along from the stepped entrance. Members of staff in pink t-shirts are on hand to assist entrance and exits from the building’.
Get tickets
By
By
By
