"A masterpiece of emotive storytelling... the most intelligent stand-up you've never heard of" (GQ) Edinburgh Comedy Award, Barry Award Nominee. "Stand-up as it should be" (List) "His phrasing is joyous and choice of words close to poetic...tales of hilarious woe" (Metro). "Wonderfully misanthropic" (Sunday Times) "Deadpan brilliance" (Time Out)

18th Feb - 13th March Venue: Adelaide Town Hall – Banqueting Room

News and reviews

Steve Hall - Live

Holden Street Theatres & Avalon Promotions Ltd Presents. Adelaide Town Hall - Banqueting Room, Feb 28 – Mar 13

UK funny man Steve Hall keeps you chuckling in “Live”, a comic take on family and romantic love. He delves into the challenging, but ultimately rewarding relationships he has with his eccentric father and hilariously straight-up Australian wife.

A Fringe regular since 2007, Hall serves up uncomplicated and entertaining wit that’s very approachable. His geeky statue with its thin slice of social awkwardness is a perfect match to his material and style. Having said this, a great comedy set is slightly let down by a delivery that just seems to lack something.

One gets the feeling that Hall’s stand-up belongs in a lively pub or bar, somewhere you can sit with friends, drink in hand, and enjoy the humor amidst the atmosphere. As just one man on a theatre stage, scrutinized by your full attention, you become aware of thoughts like “that last gag was very funny, why aren’t I laughing that hard?”

Don’t be put off though; this is a small criticism and there is plenty of fun to be had. The show gets straight into the funny stuff and Hall bounces well off audience interaction. Like an old-school comedian there is no glamour or theatrics hamming up the performance, Hall allows the jokes to speak for themselves. You warm to him quickly and find yourself laughing along in mutual understanding and empathy.

A great show worth heading out for, despite the sedate environs of the Adelaide Town Hall.

Nicole Russo

Steve Hall – LIVE

Posted on February 25, 2011 by peteskiau Steve Hall @ Adelaide Town Hall

What a beautiful, warm & calm night it was in Adelaide on the 24th of February. The festivals are warming up, the weather is perfect for drinking, and the cockroaches are flittering around the streets looking for something to satisfy their hunger; which is exactly how I discovered Steve Hall’s poster a few nights earlier while haphazardly wandering around in a drunken stupor.

Unfortunately it seems that no one else has had a chance to see this man’s quirky posters featuring a cat in a space collar. Originally booked for the Adelaide Town Halls Banquet Room (which seats 200 people); we were informed that the show had been relocated to the much smaller Prince Alfred room (which in “Theatre Style” can hold 45 people). At this point I was a little worried for him, small crowds can go two ways; intimate and unique or awkward and unfunny. Steve performed to 12 people in that room and as he pointed out, he wasn’t even sure the show was going to happen until he walked on stage. But he owned it, he learned our names, interacted with us and moved his microphone off stage which helped to make it just that little bit more intimate; it was warm and it was funny.

Steve’s show travels through a variety of topics but mostly revolves around his Father, and his Wife. Humorous stories from childhood, as well as a particularly awkward STI test at the start of a relationship make things. His humour is self effacing, which although not unique in stand up comedy by any means is always a good laugh and if we’re being honest here a bit of an ego boost.

Steve’s affection for his Wife & Father are really quite endearing despite some of the stores he shares, and the names he calls her. But you can tell he truly adores her.

Audience participation is always slightly perilous, for everyone involved and for about the third time this festival season I was called on upon for input during the show, I was quite relieved to discover that he two thinks of pigeons as “rats of the sky”. There are a few gay jokes here & there, but if you don’t laugh at them you’re probably a bit uptight.

Whilst there’re moments of potty humour and filth it also has moments of intelligence such as the part about Germaine Greer’s “Vaginal Revolution” on the night I attended.

Whilst I don’t think it needs to be said, Steve’s show is probably not for young crowds; Swearing, Hair Removal, Elderly people who no longer care, Farts and an STI test ending in marriage are all covered. Definitely get yourself a ticket and enjoy.

Steve Hall is showing at whichever Adelaide Town Hall, in whatever room they can fill through till March 12th

Hello Adelaide.

I first came to Australia as part of award winning sketch We Are Klang ("breathtaking comic firepower" The Scotsman); we got nominated for the Barry Award and The Age called us "unstoppably funny". We also got called "visually pitiful genius fools" which is my favourite ever quote.

During that run I met my future wife, and now 4 years later I'm doing a show in her hometown.

I've toured the UK loads, supporting Lee Mack and my friend, television heartthrob Russell Howard in some stupidly large venues like Wembley Arena.

The show might be a little bit rude, though on nights when the wife's family are in I'll probably tone it down a bit.

I was runner-up in the BBC's New Comedy Awards and the nice quotes at the top are from my first Edinburgh show. So, you know, it should be good.

"A masterpiece of emotive storytelling... Steve Hall is the most intelligent stand-up you've never heard of" (GQ).

"His phrasing is joyous and his choice of words close to poetic...tales of hilarious woe" (Metro)

"Wonderfully misanthropic" (Sunday Times).

"Deadpan brilliance" (Time Out)

"A master of the self-effacing joke" (Fest)

"Stand-up as it should be" (The List)