Stewart Lee has been touring the appallingly-titled ‘Room With A Stew’ show so long his agents obviously thought it safe to slip in a second date at Warwick Arts Centre a year after the first, perhaps relying on the punters’ memories being as useless as their ability to grasp his convoluted brand of stand-up – something the comedian regularly chastises them for.
The tour has been a way to hone and road test material for a new run of his Comedy Vehicle TV show, but while that date 12 months ago showed very much a work in progress, the fourth series is now in the can so this latest performance was much closer to the finished product.
Whether Lee really has a finished product is a moot point.
The set certainly never felt like it – and the comic would baulk at the notion of putting on the same sort of polished routine as the panel-show stars he habitually mocks – but the meticulous construction of his layered material offers damning evidence to the contrary.
Simultaneously intelligent and absurd, he takes logical thoughts – on topics ranging from wealth and patriotism to missing out on a BAFTA and urine – to illogical conclusions.
Lee truly comes into his own when he deconstructs (and often destructs) it all again.
Some elements didn’t quite hit the mark, and the passive-aggressive stance and contempt for the audience shtick are definitely starting to wear a bit thin, but Lee remains the UK’s boldest and most original comedian.
John Robins, Comedian
John Robins, Comedian
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Stuart, Chortle
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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World Without End, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Brighton Argus
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Bosco239, youtube
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com