Dan Tiernan is back at the Fringe, and as the title of his new show suggests, he’s holding nothing back.
Following a Best Newcomer nomination in 2023, the Live At The Apollo star returns to the Monkey Barrel with a routine that is far darker and edgier than anything I’ve seen from him before. This is a master storyteller on a journey into the abyss, and he’s determined to take you with him.
The Awkward Truth
The show is framed by a simple, yet profound, premise. After an epiphany at Glastonbury, Tiernan decided to develop a ‘system’ to improve his life. This system has three pillars: his relationship with drugs, his relationship with other people, and his relationship with his own mind. As you can imagine, this is fertile ground for comedy that is deeply personal, touching, and raw.
Tiernan doesn’t just tell you about his flaws; he makes you feel them. He has a remarkable ability to stand under a waterfall of awkward truth, recounting moments of his life with unflinching honesty. One particular incident, which becomes a hero moment for the show, is cringe-inducing on a level of 11 out of 10. He screams and shouts the story, his energy infectious, carrying the audience along on a wave of glorious discomfort.
In the Spotlight
The only thing that ever threatens to derail Tiernan from his narrative is his own fixation on the audience. He is an expert at working the crowd in the bearpit atmosphere of the Monkey Barrel, and tonight his attention landed squarely on a pilot in the front row. For the rest of the night, that man was rarely out of the spotlight.
The interaction verged on awkward but, crucially, never quite crossed the line into uncomfortable. Tiernan’s skill is in pushing the boundaries while keeping the room, and even his target’s poor wife, roaring with laughter. It’s a testament to his confidence as a performer; no matter how much he puts an audience member on the spot, he’s always prepared to be ten times harder on himself.
Overall
Dan Tiernan’s ALL IN solidifies his place in that iconic Fringe category: the late-night, edgy comedian you have to see. If you’re not on board with his high-octane, deeply confessional style from the get-go, you might find yourself wanting to hide under a sofa. But for those who know that this is their brand of comedy, this is an unmissable hour. A journey that is as hilarious as it is intense.
Review: Dan Tiernan – All In
Summary
Dan Tiernan’s ALL IN is a masterclass in dark, edgy comedy. The review highlights his powerful and unflinchingly honest storytelling about his personal ‘system’ for self-improvement, combined with daringly awkward crowd-work that showcases his skill as a performer. A must-see for fans of late-night, intense Fringe comedy.
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