Bonfire Night: A Show To Remember, Remember

Liam Williams: Bonfire Night, The Invisible Dot ★★★★☆

Will Noble
By Will Noble Last edited 102 months ago
Bonfire Night: A Show To Remember, Remember Liam Williams: Bonfire Night, The Invisible Dot 4

The bastards at the Edinburgh Fringe wouldn't allow Liam Williams to call his show {(—)} so instead he went with Bonfire Night. An abstract phone call between Williams and a seething Scot at the Fringe office sets the tone for this hour of weird onstage therapy in which the genuinely downtrodden-looking comic deconstructs the futility of things: relationships, rinsing bean juice out of cans, trying to name an Edinburgh show with a emoji.

As with Stewart Lee (an influence Williams openly declares), there are few real zingers here; the gruff comedian is comfortable ambling along with yarns about kicking the living shit out of an evil wizard, and having a long-winded debate with his future great grandson about why people now have to live on rafts. Some of these scenarios peter out, but provided you accept that's the nature of the beast, it doesn't detract from the hilarity.

Whether or not the title of the show was off the cuff, there's little about 5 November in it. That said, Williams obviously had 'remember, remember' playing in his head, because it's a theme he toys with a lot. 'What's the point doing a show someone won't even remember tomorrow?' he grumbles at one point.

In fact, the brightest embers of Bonfire Night will be glowing in our memory for some time.

Bonfire Night is on at The Invisible Dot, 2 Northdown Street, N1 9BG, until 9 October (although not every single day, so check dates). Tickets £12 (concessions £11), with as buy one get one free offer. Londonist saw this show on a complimentary ticket.  

Last Updated 18 September 2015