Review: Commoners’ Comedy brings Jordan Brookes to The Portland Arms

Commoners’ Comedy, run by Ali Warwood and Harriet Wells-Martin - “two mental health nurses trying to make the world a happier place” - puts on a monthly comedy night at The Portland Arms in Cambridge.

And tonight’s headliner (Friday, 21 March) was Jordan Brookes, one of the finest and funniest stand-ups you’ll ever see.

Ably hosted by the very likeable Ali, the event featured three other comedians, of whom Ben Pope was probably the pick of the bunch, before the comedic force-of-nature that is Jordan Brookes - an Edinburgh Comedy Award winner in 2019 - took to the stage.

His act is very physical, as he moves around the space, sits down, stands up, lies down, opens doors, and contorts his face into all manner of amusing expressions.

Having recently performed a sold-out residency at the Soho Theatre in London, it was a privilege to see Jordan up this way again (for me, he was the standout at last year’s Cambridge Fringe Festival) and he didn’t disappoint.

This was the third time I’d seen him, and although I’d heard a number of the jokes before - his musings on the fontanelle (the ‘soft spot’ that babies have at the top of their heads) and his observations about events concerning the sinking of the Titanic, for example - they were still laugh-out-loud funny.

And the packed out audience seemed to agree, giving him a rousing reception the moment he came on stage and an enthusiastic ‘send-off’ at the end.

There are some comedians that I will always try and see whenever they come to Cambridge, and Jordan Brookes is certainly one of them.

Commoners’ Comedy’s next comedy night at The Portland Arms is on 4 April, with Jacob Hawley headlining.

Ali and Harriet are also organising this year’s Cambridge Fringe Festival, with top names such as Hal Cruttenden, Ania Magliano, and Rob Auton already confirmed.

For more information, visit cambridgefringe.co.uk. For more on Commoners’ Comedy, go to commonerscomedy.co.uk.