Rich Hall “3:10 to Humour” – 29 May 2016, Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield

Since getting together with my boyfriend nearly three years ago (it’s our anniversary on 7th June) and him introducing me to the joys of Rich Hall via “QI”, we have been desperate to see him live and finally achieved this by being in the audience for the last night of his 3:10 to Humour tour at Chesterfield’s Pomegranate Theatre (possibly the best name ever for a theatre) on Sunday 29th May.

For those of you who haven’t come across this Montana native, cowboy shirt wearing, comedy legend before, Rich is known for his grouchy, deadpan style, absurd irony, perfect timing and rapid-fire wit combined with musical sequences, that leave his audiences hanging on to every word and note, whilst being as harsh about his homeland as the home of the venue he’s performing at.

As an audience member four rows from the front Rich Hall and the gig were everything I could have wished for leaving me in stitches all night (with barely enough time to share a bag of Galaxy Minstrels with my boyfriend) as his two hour set covered everything from the US election (glad he’s anti Trump) to advertising, gun law, marriage, children, restaurants and bears (I will never trust Yogi Bear ever again).

Unlike other gigs where comedians pick on the audience the front row had nothing to be scared of as those he selected had fun songs made up about them on the spot (see P.S.2. below) or got to be backing singing on his final number “Fur on a Stick”. For the last few songs of the show Rich was also joined on stage by his road manager, who is also a very talented musician for a selection of songs covering Jimmy Hendrix to grey hound racing and trucking. 

Although this was the last night of the tour a DVD release is promised on the tour poster (though I haven’t been able to track down a date for it) and Rich Hall has just announced details of another extensive UK tour later this year, which I would advise you to definitely be in the audience for, including performing at the:

• Grassington Festival on 29 June; 
• Tobacco Factory Theatre, Bristol on 6, 7 and 8 September;
• Corn Exchange, Newbury on 15 September; 
• Hertford Theatre on 16 September; 
• Arts Depot, North Finchley on 17 September; 
• Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham on 20 September; 
• Cambridge Junction on 22 September; 
• Potters Bar Wyllyotts Theatre on 23 September; 
• High Wycombe Town Hall on 24 September; 
• Theatre Royal York on 28 September; 
• Tyne Theatre, Newcastle on 29 September; 
• The Maltings, Berwick-upon-Tweed on 1 October; 
• Glee Club, Birmingham on 4 October; 
• Harrogate Theatre on 5 October; 
• William Aston Hall, Wrexham on 6 October; 
• Hafren, Newtown on 7 October; 
• The Apex, Bury St. Edmunds on 8 October; 
• Playhouse, Nottingham on 10 October; 
• Theatre Royal, Wakefield on 11 October; 
• Oakengates Theatre, Telford on 13 October; 
• Pontio, Banger on 14 October; 
• Lighthouse Theatre, Kettering on 17 October; 
• Assembly Halls, Ludlow on 21 October; 
• Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe on 22 October; 
• Nuffield Theatre, Southampton on 23 October; 
• Assembly Hall, Melksham on 27 October; 
• Royal and Derngate, Northampton on 28 October; 
• Blackheath Halls on 29 October; 
• Cambridge Junction on 31 October; 
• Borough Theatre, Abergavenny on 3 November; 
• Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl on 4 November; 
• Tewkesbury Roses Theatre on 5 November; 
• Brook Theatre, Chatham on 10 November; 
• Corn Exchange, Kings Lynn on 11 November; 
• Playhouse, Oxford on 12 November; 
• Tivoli Theatre, Wimbourne on 15 November; 
• ARC, Stockton on 18 November; 
• Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa on 19 November; 
• The Stables, Milton Keynes on 22 November; 
• Pontardawe Arts Centre on 24 November; 
• Dorking Halls on 25 November; 
• Playhouse, Norwich on 26, 27 and 28 November; 
• Opera House, Buxton 30 November; 
• Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells on 2 December; 
• Grand Theatre, Lancaster on 7 December; 
• Carnegie Theatre, Workington on 8 December; 
• Parr Hall, Warrington to 9 December; 
• and ending at The Lowry, Salford Quays on 12, 13, 14 and 15 December.