EdFringe Review: Matt Forde: The End of an Era Tour

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It’s safe to say I agree and disagree with large parts of Matt Forde’s political outlook, possibly in equal amounts. Were Jeremy Corbyn still paying zero rent for space in Forde’s head, this review would be a different creature. Thankfully the UK’s most popular allotmenteer gets only the one mention, and we’ll let that slide in light of Forde’s stick-assisted stage-craft.

For the unaware, Forde has recently had the base of his spine removed to survive a bout of cancer. Barring a few fundamental mechanical changes to his existence, he is thriving in the spotlight once more. For Forde, this should buy him some latitude when ticking off the SNP in Scotland…fair enough quite frankly.

Forde has a tremendous ability to observe and lampoon out political movers and shakers. The creative force behind the hugely successful 2020 revival of puppeteered political satire Spitting Image, Forde proves a fine mimic in the flesh.

In his defence, he is an equal opportunity dismantler of political poobahs, from Rishi Sunak to Keir Starmer, John Swinney to his enabler of political wet dreams Tony Blair. His Sunak, in particular, is an absolute hoot…oh and he does a ripping bit on The Donald.

Taking place in the aftermath of the UK election, and the run-up to the US elections, he isn’t short of opportunities to go after all involved on both sides of the Atlantic.

However, it’s not just cleverly caricatured voices and mannerisms that make this an excellent show. The whole thing is laced with callbacks and smart set-ups. He even ropes his cancer treatment and its consequences into the show, not as inspiration porn, but as solid grounds for more comedy. Forde is just glad to be able to get up again to stick the knife in the egos of the powerful – it shows.

I’m not as convinced as Matt is that the more sober bunch now occupying Downing Street will usher in meaningful change for the United Kingdom, but his annihilation of the far-right enabling Tory party is obviously on the money.

However, this isn’t a show about agreeing or disagreeing with Forde’s views on the country. Ultimately all political egos need to be stabbed regularly in any functioning democracy, and in that respect, he’s doing the Lord’s work.

It’s smart, it’s clever, and it’s a hoot…put your disagreements aside and go see one of the sharpest political comedians currently walking (albeit slowly) the British stage.

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