Twice as Nice Comedy: The Grove pub, Hammersmith, London, 2013
Aisling Bea: Plan Bea: Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh, 2015
RCN Foundation NHS Nurses Fundraiser: Up The Creek, Greenwich, London, 2017
Always Be Comedy: The Tommyfield pub, Kennington, London, 2017
Always Be Comedy: The Tommyfield pub, Kennington, London, 2018
Always Be Comedy: The Tommyfield pub, Kennington, London, 2019
Always Be Comedy: The Tommyfield pub, Kennington, London, 2020
Always Be Comedy (2 shows): The Tommyfield pub, Kennington, London, 2021
The Irish funny woman Aisling Bea’s warmth and enthusiasm is extremely infectious. I discovered her at the Twice as Nice Comedy Club in London in 2013 where I had agreed to go and see my old mate Peter Purvis aka Fred Ferenczi who was due to perform. Bea topped the bill that night and afterwards in the bar she offered to buy me a pint of Guinness for laughing so hard at her.
I next came across her at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015 where she was performing her solo show Plan Bea in 2015. She gave a spirited and effortless performance and was exhilarating on stage. The show started with some exhaustive dancing with Bea in an unrecognisable costume and the after introducing herself and getting to know her audience it was clear that a lot of thought and effort into presenting herself and her material in a vibrant and memorable show.
I then saw her twice in the space of a week in London in 2017 when she topped the bill again at the RCN Foundation NHS Nurses Fundraiser at Up The Creek Comedy Club and also at Always Be Comedy where she has since become a regular firm favourite. Bea has a very friendly and informal style of stand-up, bringing the audience comfortably into her confidence early on with childish, clown-like glee. She is lightning quick with her observations and is always a sure-fire bet to reduce an audience to tears of laughter,
The very talented Irish actress and comedian played Always Be Comedy in May 2018. Her routine was highly accomplished and very, very funny. Bea delivered free-flowing, lightning-quick stand-up comedy that never flagged. She has boundless energy and confidence on stage and is never afraid to bring characters to her stories or involve the audience who loved her.
I saw her again when she made a surprise guest appearance at Always Be Comedy in March 2019, September 2020 and June 2021. Her new material sets were pricelessly funny and she had me weeping with laughter talking about her experiences of lockdown and her comedy career. Bea was born to be a comedian and her new work in progress set was a delight to watch and a joy to behold.
Another surprise guest appearance from Bea happened in October 2021 at a live Always Be Comedy show. Her routine featured her interpretation of what she believed was sign language and had me laughing out loud again at the superb writer and comedian.
Bea is up there with the very best comics working the circuit today and I look forward to seeing her live again very soon.
