Nabil Abdulrashid became the youngest black comedian to perform standup at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2010 at the age of 25. But he’s best known for reaching the final of Britain’s Got Talent in 2020; he’s now here at Edinburgh Fringe performing his hour of standup, The Purple Pill.
Breaking the ice immediately by suggesting that the audience probably mistook him for security outside the venue, Abdulrashid immediately sets the tone for a performance, which whilst tackling serious topics, doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s often satirical, and pokes fun at pretty much everyone – but particularly white people.
Abdulrashid has a casual air to his delivery, and not a prompt in sight as he flawlessly delivers the hysterical set. I’ve not seen a comedian look so at ease on stage before, and his delivery style is so captivating we watch with bated breath as he pauses to take a sip of water before telling us the punchline.
He’s naturally funny, and the themes are topical and relatable. In one segment he jokes that posh people are scared of the abstract, whereas the working class are scared of real things, like bailiffs and utility bills.
Callbacks are executed spectacularly throughout, which adds to the overall hilarity of the show.
Some jokes may toe the line, and there are a couple of times where he uncomfortably imitates his daughter’s speech impediment; but this is an exceptional standup set that you should not miss. Abdulrashid is laugh-out-loud funny from start to finish.
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