Category Archives: David O’Doherty

David O’Doherty wrote an article for The Independent, about what happens when you’re not Travis…

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My Edinburgh: David O’Doherty, comedian

Tuesday, 23 August 201

There was a kerfuffle during my show one night at the Fringe last year. Two drunk men were having an argument. In these situations, it’s best to turn on the fury cannons, say something rude to shut them up, and carry on. That is certainly what I should have done. Instead, I asked them what was wrong. One pointed to the other and barked, “He told me we were going to see Travis.”

I am not Travis. Travis are a famous Scottish band, who had a bigger show elsewhere in the city.

How this mix-up had come about, I’ll never know. Had his friend thought I was Travis? Or had he failed to get tickets and hoped his friend wouldn’t notice? At what point during my show had he started to get the inkling I was not Travis? You’d think the sight of an empty stage, save for a small battery powered keyboard might have tipped him off.

The audience delighted in hearing about their drama, but when I tried to get back to my show, the men went back to their argument. I asked them if they’d like to leave. They said “No”.

Then I remembered the best way to get drunks to do anything is with the promise of more drink. So we had an audience whip-round. The booze lure was too strong and as they stumbled off, they received a cheer much larger than I, or I’d guess Travis, did that night.

David O’Doherty performs ‘Rory Sheridan’s Tales of the Antarctica’ at The Underbelly (0844 545 8252) to 28 Aug; and ‘David O’Doherty Is Looking Up’ at the Pleasance Courtyard (0131 556 6550) to 29 August

David O’Doherty’s must-see

I recommend Claudia O’Doherty’s show, ‘What Is Soil Erosion?’ in the Gilded Balloon at 8.45pm. We’re not related. We met because we have the same surname and we have ended up writing two books together. The latest, ’100 Facts About Sharks’, is launched at the Fringe this week.

Buy Tickets for David’s show Here

David O’Doherty Is Looking Up **** Irish Times

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David O’Doherty is Looking Up ****

David O’Doherty hasn’t been a fan of 2011. He’s been mugged twice, suffered a weight-decimating stomach infection and left the 18-34 demographic. Thankfully, he’s still got his mini-keyboard (plus an actual piano) to sing songs about wrist-emulsifying creams and birthday-celebrating sharks, all while wearing a fetching gold cape. His traditional “beefs” closing rant marks the peak of his consistent hilarity and is delivered with rasping panache. **** Laura Slattery

Read the whole article here

See David’s show every day at 7.20pm at The Pleasance Courtyard, buy tickets here

David O’Doherty Is Looking Up **** The List

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David O’Doherty is Looking Up

  • Source: The List (Issue 687)
  • Date: 19 August 2011 (updated 30 August 2011)
  • Written by: Jonny Ensall

David O'Doherty

Immaculate content delivered with furious enthusiasm

David O’Doherty used to work in a German sausage factory. This might sound like a crass comedy set-up, but it is in fact true. His role was to drive a giant Hoover designed to suck up the smashed, sausage-filled jars that tumbled off the conveyer belts. There are no double entendres in this hilarious section of his 2011 show, just a man talking about the mechanics of sausage suction.

Such is the low-key brilliance of the Irishman’s work. Without having to grope around for any jokes he has the crowd happily giggling from start to finish with a stream of songs, anecdotes and observations delivered in his trademark incredulous monotone.

There’s an almost unstoppable momentum to the performance. O’Doherty looks like a comedy athlete – a superhero even in his blue and gold cape. He’s slim (the result of a bacterial infection he helpfully lets us know), and loud – he near-shouts his set with the vehemence of a motivational speaker. The only pause comes when his bottle of fizzy water tips over, threatening to drown one of his beloved tiny keyboards, and offering the opportunity to reference deglaciation and paternoster lakes.

It would, perhaps, be nice to hear some more of these super smart, off-the-cuff asides, but O’Doherty can’t wait to get back into the flow of his (admittedly excellent) material. The practised pace of his winning song-digression-song formula is mesmerising. It’s a packed hour, as accomplished as you’ll find anywhere this Fringe.

David O’Doherty is Looking Up, Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 29 Aug, 7.20pm, £14-£15 (£12-£13)

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