ANDREW RYAN

We Love Comedy: Balham Bowls Club, London, 2013
Andrew Ryan: The Life of Ryan: Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh, 2014
Headliners Comedy Club: George IV pub, Chiswick, London, 2016
Andrew Ryan’s Pick of The Fringe: Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, 2017
99 Club Comedy: Ruby Blue, Leicester Square, London, 2017
The Off The Kerb Showcase: The Comedy Store, London, 2018
London Comedy Allstars: Underbelly Festival, Southbank, London, 2019
Boatshow Comedy: the Tattershall Castle, Embankment, London, 2021
Headliners Comedy Club: George IV pub, Chiswick, London, 2021
Boatshow Comedy: the Tattershall Castle, Embankment, London, 2022 

I have a confession to make.  When I attended Andrew Ryan’s Pick of The Fringe showcase at Edinburgh in 2017, Ryan asked the audience if they had seen his show.  I yelled out ‘yes’ and he asked me which was my favourite part of the show.  I mumbled the start and he said ‘yes that’s best bit isn’t it?’  When Ryan had gone on to complete the routine, it transpired that the show he was talking about was from 2017 which I hadn’t seen and the show I had been talking about was from 2014.  Nevertheless, the routine still got laughs.

Andrew Ryan is a comedian who is an immense talent.  Ryan’s essentially Irish storytelling abilities and cheeky, friendly demeanour make him a natural observational stand up.  I first saw him do a five-minute set at the We Love Comedy showcase when he made a big impact with the crowd.  I then saw his solo show The Life of Ryan at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2014.  He was engaging, warm and friendly with the crowd and was very, very funny.

It is always a pleasure to see Ryan live on stage.  In my mind, he is one of the comedians who should be bigger than they actually are and I wish him continued comic accomplishments.

Ryan was the first guest act as part of the Off The Kerb Showcase at The Comedy Store, London in April 2018.  Clearly loving what he does, he was extremely warm and friendly towards the audience and delivered a well-structured ten-minute endearing and very funny routine with a very self-assured manner.  The very appreciative crowd (especially for a Monday night) loved him.

The jovial Irishman returned in June 2019 to appear at the London Comedy Allstars at the Underbelly Festival on the Southbank.  His ten-minute set had sharp, observational comment on the state that the country is in delivered with warm, friendly bewilderment from an extremely funny comedy.

In August 2021, Ryan returned to live stand-up after the pandemic lockdown when he hosted the Boatshow Comedy in London.  He was a brilliantly funny compere extremely quick-witted and thinking on his feet.  He was exceptional at audience interaction, fearless with the crowd and his well-written stories and routines went down a storm.  It was great to have a drink with him afterwards and catch up.  He appeared at Headliners Comedy Club in October 2021 and for Boatshow Comedy again in October 2022 where he effortlessly entertained the very enthusiastic crowd.  His skill and ability at creating laughter was inspired and the audience loved him every time he walked on stage to introduce the acts.  Covering everything from Brexit and the pandemic to his native Ireland (including a wonderful Dougal impersonation from Father Ted), Ryan had a quick witty line or story for the encouraging crowd.

It is always a pleasure to see Ryan live on stage.  He is one of the comedians who should be bigger than they are and I wish him continued comic accomplishments and success.

 

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