Angela Barnes is becoming a bigger comedy name with each passing month. She is a regular on television panel shows such as Mock the Week and has also appeared on 8 out of 10 Cats and Live at the Apollo. She is currently touring the UK with her latest stand-up show, Rose-Tinted, supported by Phil Jerrod.
Barnes is a powerful speaker. Her ideas are projected forward with strength and her delivery is relaxed. Within seconds her audience feels assured that they are in safe hands for the next hour, and they are.
Rose-Tinted is a show concerned with trying to find positives in a world that seems rather dismal and often quite terrifying. Barnes confesses that she is no ray of sunshine, generally speaking, but it is only natural to assume that most of us aren’t. Angela’s mission, however, is to find the silver linings in the day to day dreariness of UK living. She reflects on the political landscape, along with the #MeToo movement and the state of the NHS, but this is no depressing, political rally because the main focus is Angela’s own personal experiences throughout her teenage, and more recent, years.
In fact, Barnes’ show is remarkably up-lifting. This is largely down to the predominant focus being on day-to-day silver linings, from Barnes’ happy relationship to her recently completing the Couch to 5K. Effortlessly amiable, Angela has her audience rooting for her. This likability comes from her directness and the fact she never feels the need to pander to her audience. As a comic this shows a great amount of creative confidence. Not only this, but her down-to-earth demeanour means that we, perhaps predominantly her female audience, begin to see a part of Angela in ourselves.
Barnes is very open about her faults and is clearly incredibly self-aware, recognising that change needs to come from inside of us and work its way out into the world we live in. The contrast of personal anecdotes and political comment gives the show a freshness, although there is certainly more room for the comic to delve deeper into her own personal narrative, when the time comes.
Rose-Tinted is an honest, uplifting recognition of the important role we each play in our own happiness, regardless of what is going on in the world around us. It’s fast-paced, honest and packed with solid jokes; a highly enjoyable piece of comedy.