REVIEW: Jason Cook's Comedy Club, The Customs House, South Shields

It was one of those nights when you didn't know whether to laugh or gasp in disbelief '“ and it was utterly brilliant.
Jason Cook's Comedy Club. Picture by Kevin Duffy.Jason Cook's Comedy Club. Picture by Kevin Duffy.
Jason Cook's Comedy Club. Picture by Kevin Duffy.

Hebburn comic Jason Cook put on his best Comedy Club yet at the Customs House last night.

The evening’s line-up just got more and more outrageous as the night went on.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Jason came onto the stage in an infectiously-good mood and straight away, the sold-out crowd knew they were in for a corker of an evening.

The comic chatted with the audience, using his incredible knack of finding humour in the most mundane things, like which supermarket people shop at, and by the time he was done with them, people were already sore from laughter.

African comic Daliso Chaponda was the first act to take to the stage.

People gasped as he joked that standing up in front of the audience like he was would have been an auction 500 years ago.

Daliso Chaponda as Jason Cook's Comedy Club. Picture by Kevin Duffy.Daliso Chaponda as Jason Cook's Comedy Club. Picture by Kevin Duffy.
Daliso Chaponda as Jason Cook's Comedy Club. Picture by Kevin Duffy.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The crowd – in a stereotypically-British manner – were unsure if they should laugh or not at first, but once he assured us it was okay, we were fully on board with him.

His tales about single life and how his married mates moan to him about their relationships really struck a chord – especially in the run up to Valentine’s Day.

He had everyone howling as he compared his new life in the UK to his time in Africa – talking about our liberal attitudes and tendency to complain about almost everything.

Next up was Peter Brush, whose act was just genius.

Peter Brush at Jason Cook's Comedy Club. Picture by Kevin Duffy.Peter Brush at Jason Cook's Comedy Club. Picture by Kevin Duffy.
Peter Brush at Jason Cook's Comedy Club. Picture by Kevin Duffy.

He was like one of those acts on X Factor or Britain’s Got Talent, that as they walk out on the stage, everyone turns to each other with the ‘here we go’ looks, assuming they’re not going to be entertained.

But then he just blew everyone away.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

His dry, monotone persona was completely hilarious – I could hardly breathe at times.

The comic was on fire as he told stories about how he was mysteriously kidnapped every summer only to be returned to his newly-tanned parents, the struggles of getting on the property ladder, and how his grandmother keeps track of who’s died by the people she receives Christmas cards from.

Chris Ramsey at Jason Cook's Comedy Club. Picture by Kevin Duffy.Chris Ramsey at Jason Cook's Comedy Club. Picture by Kevin Duffy.
Chris Ramsey at Jason Cook's Comedy Club. Picture by Kevin Duffy.

As he chatted about the afterlife, he made a point that, I think, people found as compelling as they did funny.

Saying he goes to bed dressed as a pirate in case he dies in his sleep in order to forever be a pirate ghost did get me thinking about which outfit I’d most like to wear forever.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Jason came back to the stage to give a very unusual introduction to best pal, South Shields comic Chris Ramsey, who came on as a surprise guest.

Chris, who has had a couple of months off work since the birth of his son, Robin, was getting geared up to get back on the road, and we were more than happy to be his practice audience.

Tales from his family life, like the strange things his baby does as well as the sheer size of him, to how his relationship with his wife has changed since the little one came along garnered nods of agreement from people in the crowd as well as fits of giggles.

His story of a misunderstanding with a shopkeeper was hilarious and shows he doesn’t take himself too seriously – he’s willing to be the butt of his own joke.

Tanyalee Davis at Jason Cook's Comedy Club. Picture by Kevin Duffy.Tanyalee Davis at Jason Cook's Comedy Club. Picture by Kevin Duffy.
Tanyalee Davis at Jason Cook's Comedy Club. Picture by Kevin Duffy.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Canadian little person Tanyalee Davis closed the show with an outrageously-rude set.

I think at first, people felt unsure about whether to laugh or not, but after Tanyalee began ripping into herself, she invited us to laugh along with her as she spoke about the struggles in her everyday life.

Great things really do come in small packages, and I think everyone could identify in some way with her embarrassing stories and out-there tales.

She was rude and crude but side-splittingly hilarious.

Jason has really outdone himself this time. I think every comic went away with a lot of new fans and every audience member went away with a few new laughter lines.

Jason’s next Comedy Club is on April 2. Click here to book tickets.