As the only Irish/ Indian gay comic around (probably), Dane Buckley’s unique selling point is explored in his debut show – Darling. It’s an impressive introduction to this cheeky and lovable comic, by way of a celebration of the strong women in Buckley’s life. These were the “cast members that showed up,” as opposed to his errant and absent father. And what characters they are. Central to everything is his sassy, no nonsense, Irish Mammy, a 5ft 2 Celtic hippy, but a real tiger Mom when it mattered. His Indian nan sounds equally hilarious, with her bath pearls and tea leaf reading, whilst two older sisters and an army of Irish aunties occupy supporting roles.

What follows is an hour of fascinating,  funny and cleverly written anecdotes of family life growing up on a London council estate in the 1990s. Buckley regales the audience with his experiences of racism, homophobia, starring in a Rice Krispies advert and his love/hate relationship with Catholicism. His mimicry of accents is spot on and he’s excellent at recounting dialogue. It’s entertaining, varied and above all interesting. What must at times have been challenging situations, are handled with lightness and humour. It’s only when Buckley talks of his dear sister Joanne’s passing, that he shows any vulnerability, and the depth of his emotion makes him all the more endearing. It’s also refreshing to find a gay comic that doesn’t need to resort to lots of cock jokes to be funny.

Buckley exudes warmth and mischief. The audience are onside within seconds and his hilarious, and at times, poignant life story, further strengthens that bond. He’s a cheeky chap, having obviously inherited the Irish gift of the gab and quips back and forth to his audience with ease.  For the finale, a sort of recitative is performed accompanied by his Appalachian dulcimer. It’s a good way to draw the set to a close, but could have used a catchier tune. However, this is an incidental and in no way detracts from what is a stand-out debut hour.

Perhaps what’s so surprising is the size of the venue for such a talented comic. I’m pretty sure Granny’s tea leaves are rightly predicting a return to Edinburgh in a decidedly bigger venue.  This might be the only chance to see this talented performer in such an intimate setting.

‘Darling‘ is at Bunker One at Pleasance Courtyard until Sun 30 Aug 2026