Comedians, being actors, but comedians too – with neither job done all that successfully. Such is the basis of ‘Itch – A Scratch Event’, and it’s a confusing concept to grasp. Comedians act out scenes from a variety of circumstances (a bored relationship, a fraudster aristocrat, another bored relationship) and their true theatrical skills are tested as the vast majority of these scenes are unrehearsed. It’s an ambitious format. but most sketches are awkward in their inconsistent delivery, and the on-stage scripts are somewhat distracting. They sometimes strike the right balance between humour and theatre – the Sex Education sketch is hilarious – but, despite being presented as spontaneous and avant-garde, ‘Itch’ as a show seems a bit lost.

Pleasance Courtyard, 13-14 Aug, times vary.
tw rating 2/5 | [Olivia Sleet]