At Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on Friday evening, a faithful following of die-hard Stewart Lee fans were ready to greet his new show, Stewart Lee vs The Man-Wulf, with their customary appreciation. 
They were not disappointed.

The show demonstrated once again why Lee earned the Times newspaper’s label of ‘the world's greatest-living stand-up comedian’ - a reference often repeated and surely richly deserved. How many other stand-ups can create and deliver routines of this quality? Not many, if any, I would say. The current crop of publicity-hungry laughter merchants/celebrities who frequent our TV screens would do well to study this made-in-the-Midlands master of mirth and learn.

Taking to the stage looking somewhat like a genial professor from Hogwarts in a long black coat and heavy-framed glasses, Stewart had the audience eating out of his hand as he introduced the show. A costume change marked the beginning of the show proper, and he was off...

The consummate professional, in the finest tradition of classical orators, he told us what he was going to do, did it, then told us what he had done. In the course of an act peppered with his trademark callbacks and self-deprecating comments, Stewart took us from archaeology to Coldplay via Bodmin Moor (the tale of being mistaken for the singer from UB40 while visiting an ancient monument was a particular highlight); the overall impression is of a beautifully crafted, hilarious and surreal journey through the inner workings of the sharpest of comedic minds.

Via the medium of a brutally forthright werewolf counterpart, he makes no secret of his opinion of the $60million Netflix comedians who are the subject of many of his jibes. The comedy is, naturally, delivered in his typically grumpy style, but all the time with the sardonic smile that reminds those watching that, deep-down, he is in fact enjoying this very much indeed. Lee was born to perform, and the audience cannot fail to be swept along by his infectious brand of gently sarcastic mickey-taking. Nothing is sacred. From reindeer and chips to Bob Dylan, everything and everyone is fair game and is subjected to his unfailingly entertaining take on the world.

It’s no surprise that Stewart Lee vs The Man-Wulf sold out its recent London run. Those who love stand-up would be well-advised to see this show (on tour nationally through 2025), which is surely set to be one of the highlights, if not the highlight, of the comedy year.

Five stars

Stewart Lee vs The Man-Wulf was reviewed by Rachel Smith at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on Friday 24 January.