Crazy Bird Comedy Club, Nailsworth Subscription Rooms, Sean Hughes and support.

ONE of the big guns of stand-up headed the bill in Nailsworth on Saturday, and Sean Hughes lived up to expectations, treating the townsfolk to a cracking evening's entertainment.

The Irish comic wasn't totally impressed with the chilly Sub Rooms, but the temperature was quickly integrated into the routine along with other local observations.

The audience was decidedly middle aged and middle class - "Is this where the Child Catcher lives?" Sean said, wondering at the lack of punters under 30 - but it proved ideal for an act featuring the delights of growing older.

Ageing and ailments proved great sources for a non-stop stream of comedy, and it was a joy to watch a master at work as he mined the comedy from subjects as diverse as Crystal Palace FC, the Paralympics, psoriasis (and other conditions), making a will, a Catholic upbringing and that favourite computer game, Tesco internet shopping.

Sean was ably assisted by Aussie comedienne Sarah Bennetto, whose secret social experiment provided some good laughs, and by Paul Wade; his material wasn't exactly the right stuff for this audience but you had to admire his spirit in battling through to the end.

The whole was compered by the inimitable Geoff Whiting who did a great job in warming up the audience. The venue may have been freezing but the comedy, especially from star turn Sean, was sizzling.

Jane Leigh