Momentum

Mo Gilligan brings a level of physical showmanship to the stage that owes as much to his background in internet-skit character work as it does to traditional stand-up. Backed by a live band, he transforms ordinary observational territory, such as the dynamics of a WhatsApp group chat planning a birthday, into highly choreographed performance pieces. The band, providing everything from ambient horror noises for childhood scoldings to a backing beat for a Rastafarian version of nursery rhymes, elevates the material beyond standard observational routines.

Filmed at the Hackney Empire in East London, this 2019 release marked a breakout moment for the London comic. After building a massive grassroots following online and co-hosting The Big Narstie Show, Gilligan used the hour to transition his popular social media archetypes into a cohesive theatrical performance. His physical bits, like recreating the slow-motion posturing of a teenager checking their bank balance on payday, show a performer relying heavily on his body language and timing.