Gag and Bone Man Comedy, 1931 Birstall, Leeds – Review
By Steve Crabtree, May 2025
Even though I always say it – until I’m watching live comedy, I always forget what a brilliant night out a comedy gig is.
And this time around, I was lucky enough to be at another evening of Gag n Bone Man Comedy – this time setting up shop at 1931 Birstall.
It was a Friday night, my work was done, and the weekend was here. This was my first visit to this venue, and what a place! But, more on that later.
For this one, my mate Dan and I rocked up around 7pm, half an hour before kick-off and grabbed a beer. With swift and friendly service at the bar, we were all set for a top night. There was a good crowd filtering in, and we were in for a treat…
“Too good for a warm up”
Taking charge of the night was Graeme Rayner – as always. He’s not just the organiser/promoter/call-him-what-you-will of Gag n Bone Man Comedy, he’s a proper act in his own right. Too good for a warm up, but perfect for keeping things ticking over between acts and intervals.
He wasted no time diving in with some front-row interaction, playfully taking the mick in a way that had everyone laughing – including those on the receiving end, and that’s Rayner’s gift: everyone’s in on the joke, and he sets the tone with sharp, smart humour that gets the room going from the off. I’d happily watch a solo show of his, although getting his funnies three or four times a night is just as good.
“Laughing its socks off”
It was Tom Taylor that he brought up on stage first. A musical comedian with a keyboard and a cracking sense of timing, getting the first laughs of the night is never easy, but he absolutely nailed it.
His act was sharp and silly in equal measure, with the keyboard acting more like a comedy sidekick than a crutch. He’d land a great joke, then hit a few notes and sing a cheeky sub-punchline that doesn’t catch you off guard as such – but gives an extra hit of funny that keeps the room in stitches. From the moment he walked on, Birstall was laughing its socks off – and a lot of that was down to just how effortlessly funny Taylor is.
Speaking to the people around us after his act had finished, we all felt we’d had a top evening already. There was, of course, much more to come.
“Bumbling brilliance”
After a quick break, Paul Campbell followed as the middle act. I lost track of how many times I laughed hard at what he says and does up on that stage.
I would guess this act isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But none of those said tea-avoiders were in the house tonight. His set played out like a nervously odd man you wouldn’t trust to babysit, let alone join the family barbecue – and it worked beautifully. All his stories made him the butt of the joke, especially when he launched into tales about working at the local swimming baths. It was daft, offbeat, and properly hilarious.
I’d never seen Campbell before, but he’s firmly on my radar now. That kind of deliberately bumbling brilliance is hard to get right – and he absolutely smashed it.
“A right gem of a venue”
Between the acts, Dan and I started chatting about the venue. 1931 Birstall is a cracking place – clean, stylish, and clearly run by people who know what they’re doing.
The layout stood out for me: three rows of seats down the front, with tables making up the rest of the room. That kind of setup creates a proper atmosphere – better than just endless lines of chairs. The reserved seating is a massive plus too. No last-minute scramble for a spot, or any of that “Is anyone sat there? Well can you move up then?” kind of awkwardness.
There’s a spacious-but-intimate feel to it, and it’s spot-on for live comedy. With great bar service, a warm welcome, and even a bit of music and dancing afterwards, 1931 Birstall is a right gem of a venue.
“Had us creasing up”
The headliner for the night was none other than Lucy Beaumont – and what a way to close the show.
You’ll know her. She’s been on all the big telly shows, and it was clear from the reaction in the room that people were excited to see her. Graeme gave her a big build-up, and she walked on to a huge round of applause. Before it had even died down, she cracked: “I’m smaller than I look on the telly, aren’t I?” – which, coincidentally, was exactly what I’d just said to Dan. Straight away, the audience was hers.
Her set was packed with stories about Hull, her accent, family life and lots of brilliant self-deprecation. There’s a ditzy edge to her stage persona, but the cleverness behind it all is obvious – she knows exactly what she’s doing, and the result is a fast-paced, consistently hilarious set that felt like it flew by.
You can’t give the game away in reviews like these, because then you know the joke. But there’s too many I’d love to repeat right here in the next few paragraphs. Let me just tell you that I think the room was genuinely gutted when she’d finished, and the show had ended.
“Laugh till it hurts”
The thing about a Gag and Bone Man comedy night is this: You get a headliner, but you’re not just there for them like you are at an arena show. You get three comics, all doing a fantastic set that’s carefully curated and they’re up there for a while. Ticket holders are having a night out – not just a quick foray into a few laughs like you’re watching TV.
And it’s a quality night out too. Throw in the talents of Graeme Rayner as well, and you’ve got four brilliant people making you laugh till it hurts for a few hours. The value for money is off the scale.
Tonight was perhaps the best Gag and Bone Man comedy night I’ve been to, and I’ve seen a few of them. As for laughs? I don’t think I’ve had as many as this in a long time.
Images: Archie Rayner Photography
Give Steve music, give him food, give him theatre, tech or travel… and he’s a happy man. He’s been writing professionally since 2003, turning to journalism in 2017 when it offered him the chance to enjoy a lot of his existing passions, and learn some new ones at the same time. Steve can be found spending many of his summer nights watching bands at The Piece Hall in his hometown of Halifax, or enjoying a bite to eat and a drink with his wife anywhere in Yorkshire at any time of year. Random fact: He does the best impression of Zippy and George from Rainbow that anyone has ever heard.
