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Promotional art for Life After Death
Cover image credit: Promotional image via Comedy Dynamics

Life After Death

Scott Gibson

Comedy Dynamics · Album · 2017

A Glaswegian comic finds bleak humor in his own brain hemorrhage.

Scott Gibson finds comedy in the unglamorous reality of a medical emergency. The hour centers on a brain hemorrhage he suffered at age 24, which he initially dismissed as a massive hangover following a chaotic stag weekend in Blackpool. Gibson focuses on the indignity of the situation, recounting a flatmate casually making toast while he bled from the head, and the awkwardness of trying to hide an involuntary erection while being showered by hospital nurses. He bypasses sentimental life lessons, choosing instead to focus on the absurd physical realities of his near-death experience. Delivered in a blunt Glaswegian style, this debut solo set won Gibson the Best Newcomer award at the 2016 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, making him the first Scottish comedian to take home the prize before its release as a Comedy Dynamics audio album in August 2017.

The set list

2 bits

  1. Stag weekend in Blackpool and the exploding brain

    Recounting a chaotic stag trip followed by returning home to Glasgow and mistaking a severe brain haemorrhage for a monstrous hangover, choosing to sleep it off for four days.

  2. Calling NHS 24 and the hospital stay

    Observational comedy regarding calling the NHS helpline, having a stroke while on the phone, turning away an ambulance, and navigating hospital wards and treatments.

How it plays

Tone
Dark, searing humor combined with dark hysteria, raw honesty, and a resilient, positive outlook.
On stage
Described as a natural, gifted, and unapologetic storyteller; a confident yet unpretentious raconteur who talks to audiences with warmth as if chatting to mates in a pub.
Pace
Long-form storytelling with engaging momentum and the ability to hold a room solely through sustained narrative delivery.
About
near-death experience, brain haemorrhage and surgery, mortality, masculinity, NHS and medical care, Blackpool stag party

What the critics said

Critically acclaimed debut hour; praised by The Herald as 'a big, bold, belter of a debut' that was 'riotously funny and at times painfully raw,' and commended by The Guardian for capturing 'the comedy of life\'s unglamorous underside.'

In the room: Drawn to sold-out audiences and high acclaim across Edinburgh and London tour dates.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: stg.comedydynamics.com, broadwayworld.com, bigscottgibson.bandcamp.com, theguardian.com, one4review.co.uk, comedyawards.co.uk, theskinny.co.uk, beyondthejoke.co.uk, totalmk.co.uk.

Backstory

Recounts the three weeks following a stag weekend in Blackpool when Gibson suffered a massive brain haemorrhage at age 24 and underwent surgery, a near-death ordeal that prompted him to leave his call-centre job and pursue standup comedy.

Details

Released
Taped
Soho Theatre, London
Where
Comedy Dynamics (album)
Honors
Lastminute.com Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer (2016)
Topics

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