Ed Byrne: The Lowry, Manchester. 2002
Ed Byrne: Standing Up and Falling Down: Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh, 2006
Ed Byrne: Different Class: Assembly Hall on the Mound, Edinburgh, 2008
Stand Up For Freedom (Amnesty International): Assembly Hall on the Mound, Edinburgh, 2008
The Big Comedy Gala in Aid of Macmillan Cancer Support: Venue 150 @ EICC, Edinburgh, 2011
Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe 20th Anniversary Gala: Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh, 2011
Ed Byrne: Crowd Pleaser: Venue 150 @ EICC, Edinburgh, 2011
Roar with Laughter: Hammersmith Apollo, London, 2012
Ed Byrne: Roaring Forties: Venue 150 @ EICC, Edinburgh, 2013
Ed Byrne: Outside Looking In: Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh, 2015
Ed Byrne: Spoiler Alert (Edinburgh Preview): Downstairs At The Kings Head, Crouch End, London, 2017
Always Be Comedy (2 shows): The Tommyfield pub, Kennington, London, 2019
#SaveLiveComedy: (Show 3): The Clapham Grand, London: Online: 2020
Leicester Comedy Festival: Happy Hour Q & A Interview with Ed Byrne: Online: 2021
Always Be Comedy: The Tommyfield pub, Kennington, London, 2021
Always Be Comedy: The Tommyfield pub, Kennington, London, 2022
I have seen Irish comedian Ed Byrne develop on stage, appearing live many times over the years. Each solo show is carefully crafted about what is going on in his life at that particular time from growing up (Standing Up and Falling Down), becoming a father (Different Class / Crowd Pleaser), turning forty (Roaring Forties), wondering what life was all about (Outside Looking In) and as a generation we are all spoilt (Spoiler Alert).
Every time, Byrne was a consummate professional with effortless charm and an engaging personality. His persona on stage was always upbeat and he delivered well-timed jokes with ease as well as brilliantly constructive routines that were hilarious, packed with laughs and personal experiences.
I watched Byrne play Always Be Comedy in April 2019 and June 2019. Preparing for his new Edinburgh Fringe show and tour, the work in progress material about how he thinks his children are developing into him was polished, very clever and extremely funny. His bu Byrne’s twenty-five years of experience shone through as he displayed his usual energy, perfect comic timing and delivery to a packed crowd.
Byrne headlined the #SaveLiveComedy: Show Three that I watched online live from the Clapham Grand in August 2020. The comedian was a master at delivering a punchline and a hilarious story from a series of random objections built up into major grippes. He was a great whinger and because the audience feel as though they know him from his extremely endearing stage presence, they are on his side and with him all the way.
I watched an interview with Byrne for the Leicester Comedy Festival which took place online because of the Coronavirus epidemic in February 2021. Byrne talked to founding director Geoff Rowe about his comedy career, his highlights, and views on the future of live comedy.
The comedian made a triumphant return to live stand-up for Always Be Comedy in July 2021. He performed new material about family, fatherhood and fatherhood effortlessly reducing the audience to consistent laughter. He was clearly at the top of his game and was wonderful to watch.
Byrne returned to Always Be Comedy at Kennington in December 2022 where he paid a fitting tribute to the sad passing of his younger brother earlier in the year, and delivering a brilliant comedy masterclass about family life which had the audience inconsistent bursts of laughter.
Byrne is a brilliant comedian and one of the modern greats.