It’s Abigail Rolling’s clients who reckon she’s a shit lawyer, you know, when they end up in jail. Though some of those clients are pretty shit at being criminals, making their sentences somewhat inevitable. A number of these clients feature here, though the villains of the piece are really the politicians that have allowed our criminal justice system to falter through under-funding. Rolling’s political message is clear: it runs throughout the show as she describes her experiences as a legal aid defence lawyer, a kind of lawyer that will be in short supply if that political message is not heeded, she warns. The show is often more interesting than funny, though there is humour in each story and the punchlines get decent laughs when they arrive. Nevertheless, it’s more of a show for those with an existing interest in the subject matter, which is then definitely presented in an engaging and entertaining way.

Gilded Balloon Patter House, until 25 Aug.
tw rating 3/5 | [Chris Cooke]