When is a show about Brexit and Trump not about Brexit and Trump? Stewart Lee‘s latest effort was an essay on the social media-driven cultural landscape, refracted through a prism of 2016’s EU referendum and US presidential election. Set against a backdrop of cheap stand-up DVDs and an artistic framing device, Content Provider was yet another triumph from a performer who has steadily grown his fan-base in similar proportion to his critical acclaim.
His first proper show since Carpet Remnant World, having concentrated for a few years on running in material for his Comedy Vehicle TV series, didn’t merely focus on the volatile political climate, also taking in music, Game of Thrones, and the commercialisation of S&M. All were fertile ground, and Lee didn’t disappoint even on such disparate topics.
A fascinating aspect of Lee’s trajectory in the past decade or so has been his indulgence of certain stand-up conventions and his own approach, and in many ways this new outing was a continuation of that oeuvre. Utilising the status of the character ‘Stewart Lee’, he’s been able to maintain a distance which resulted in intelligent, superbly-crafted comedy, while Lee himself looked like he was having enormous fun, occasionally betraying the character’s withering commentary on the audience by being unable to conceal his glee.
Content Provider, in much the same way as all his recent output, was a masterclass in control – a tightly-written and -constructed show which knew exactly how to probe and push the audience, leading them one way and then the other. Upping the pace and using fewer instances of repetition than on the Comedy Vehicle series – without veering too far away from that reliable technique – this felt like a joy of a set, familiar in rhythm but with his singular take on the state of the world and some astonishingly good jokes.
At this stage, he’s so far ahead of the field, the rest are in danger of being lapped.
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
Pudabaya, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Tin Frog, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Fowkes81, Twitter
Fowkes81, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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A D Ward, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Borathigh5, Youtube
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Rudeness, Youtube
Rudeness, Youtube
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
John Robins, Comedian
John Robins, Comedian
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Idrie, Youtube
Idrie, Youtube
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
Joycey, readytogo.net
Joycey, readytogo.net
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
Danazawa, Youtube
Danazawa, Youtube
Anamatronix, Youtube
Anamatronix, Youtube
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
Bosco239, youtube
Bosco239, youtube
Chez, Chortle.com
Chez, Chortle.com
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Keilloh, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Peter Fears, Twitter
Peter Fears, Twitter
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com