David Farnor | On 29, Apr 2020

Laura Lexx is the kind of stand-up comedian who immediately makes you want to be their friend – an effect that’s the result of both her extreme candour about her own life and the fact that she’s hilarious.

The Brighton-based comic got a profile boost a few years ago when a video of her responding to a misogynist heckler in the audience flared up online. It gets a mention in Tyrannosaurus Lexx, her special from shortly after, but it’s testament to her winning persona that it doesn’t dominate the overall show, which demonstrates why she should be well known enough without it.

Since then, she has appeared on Live at the Apollo and brought the house down in 2019 at the Edinburgh Fringe with a topical special – including a rant about netball – but if you want to get in the ground floor of Lexx’s towering talent, Tyrannosaurus Lexx is the place to start. It neatly sets out the comic’s secret weapon: an ability to feel absolutely genuine, as she delves into the dram of family relationships, while also focusing on the challenge of being a newly married couple. Through the hour-long set runs a nicely observed blend of 90s nostalgia and new media angst, and Lexx candidly talks about mental health in the social media age as well as the challenge of having a Daily Mail reader for a mother.

It’s all served up with a bubbly charisma, a strong feminist stance and a reassuring reminder that comparing yourself with your peers can only lead to disillusionment or frustration. The result is an hour that’s guaranteed to leave you grinning at the casually told anecdotes, frank asides and tangible sense of conviction. Think Sarah Millican or Victoria Wood for a new generation, then stop thinking and start telling your actual friends. This homegrown comedic talent is always one to watch.

Tyrannosaurus Lexx is available on NextUp as part of a £9.99 monthly subscription, with a 7-day free trial.

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