You might know him as the 2020 winner of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, but first and foremost, Nabil Abdulrashid is a badman. He kicks off his hour-long show by painting an evocative picture of multicultural Croydon – we can pretty much smell the ‘crack residue in the air’ – and introduces a snappy finger-guns character who pops up throughout the set, to our delight.
Sharp cultural observations with a pinch of self-deprecation sets the tone, which is a whirlwind journey through Abdulrashid’s life being a father, living with ADHD and the complexities of navigating racial stereotypes in modern-day Britain. White people – especially posh white people, which he points out obviously make up the majority of the Fringe audience – are often the butt of his jokes, which go down a genuine treat. No one – from the bossman at the off-license to the royal family – is free from his rasp, though, and his digs occasionally tread a line of being completely inappropriate or shatteringly awkward.
Luckily, that line is never quite crossed. At once pinch-me clever and painstakingly bold, the whole thing works so well because Abdulrashid is keenly and explicitly aware of where he fits in the narrative. And while the sketches about his child may have lacked the same impact as the rest of the set, the more emotional self-reflective moment that came with it provided good space for the hard hitters to breathe.
It probably could have benefited from a few slower bits. Abdulrashid has so much material to pack into the hour that occasionally it feels like we’re being rushed: some punchlines could have done with more time to marinate, especially the more daring ones. That said, Abdulrashid guides us through the more weighted issues with a natural, friendly ease, with many jokes called back to add twists and catch us off guard. It’s never predictable, often hysterical – and overall a joy.