Underbelly’s 10th Birthday Blowout: Edinburgh Fringe 2009, Underbelly, Bristo Square, Edinburgh, 2009
BBC Stand Up Show Live: Edinburgh Fringe 2009, Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh, 2009
The Big Comedy Gala In Aid of Macmillan Cancer Support: Edinburgh Fringe 2011, Venue 150 @ EICC, Edinburgh, 2011
Best of the Fest: Edinburgh Fringe 2012, Assembly Hall, Edinburgh, 2012
Best of the Fest: Edinburgh Fringe 2014, Assembly Hall, Edinburgh, 2014
99 Club Comedy: Leicester Square, London, 2015
Best of the Fest: Edinburgh Fringe 2015, Assembly Hall, Edinburgh, 2015
The Horne Section’s Question Sessions: Edinburgh Fringe 2015, Gilded Balloon Teviot, Edinburgh, 2015
Always Be Comedy: The Tommyfield pub, Kennington, London, 2016
Best of the Fest Daytime: Edinburgh Fringe 2016, Assembly George Square Gardens, Edinburgh, 2016
Best of the Fest: Edinburgh Fringe 2017, Assembly Hall, Edinburgh, 2017
Always Be Comedy: The Tommyfield pub, Kennington, London, 2017
Best of the Fest: Edinburgh Fringe 2018, Assembly Hall, Edinburgh, 2018
#SaveLiveComedy: (Show 2): The Clapham Grand, London: Online: 2020
Always Be Comedy Online: Online: 2020
Clapham Comedy Club @ The Bread & Roses: The Bread & Roses pub, Clapham, London, 2020
Edinburgh Comedy All Stars: Edinburgh Fringe 2023, Underbelly George Square, Edinburgh, 2023
I have been watching Carl Donnelly perform comedy for years and he is one of a handful of people who is brilliant at audience participation. He effortlessly connects storytelling and observational humour with his spontaneous skills. The ability to stay so relaxed and under control in a stand-up situation is an enormous talent.
More interesting are the stories he tells so engagingly. Though some have the slightly frustrating habit of pilfering out, it is these moments that stand out more and are the most captivating.
Donnelly is an excellent compere which was proven when I went to see the Best of the Fest night-time showcase at the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2018. He was enthusiastic with his introduction of the acts, some well after midnight, and the audience clearly warmed to the funny man.
Donnelly had a guest spot at the second show for #SaveLiveComedy and appeared for Always Be Comedy Online in August 2020. The comic also deservedly headlined the Clapham Comedy Club in October 2020. He had a very relaxed manner easily engaging with audience banter recounting shambolic stories about his life which the crowd could relate to.
The comedian compared the Edinburgh Comedy All Stars showcase that I saw at the Edinburgh Fringe 2023. Very easy-going, friendly and chatty on stage, he warmed the late-night crowd up brilliantly for the main acts.
Donnelly is a very reliable comedian who will easily entertain an audience.