REVIEW: Showtime from the Frontline

Mark Thomas, Faisal Abu Alhayjaa and Alaa Shehada (Lesley Martin)

IF there’s a place where gallows humour is bound to go down well, it’s Glasgow.

And it’s just as well, because Mark Thomas’ show explores the everyday reality of living under an Israeli occupation, pipe bombs and all.

Showtime from the Frontline tells the true story of the comedian’s efforts to set up comedy workshops in Jenin Refugee Camp.

Faisal Abu Alhayjaa and Alaa Shehada join Mark onstage after beginning at the Jenin comedy classes, and are the real stars and heart of the production.

Nothing here is free from ridicule. Military-ordered curfew, gunfire and martyrdom are all the butt of Mark’s co-stars jokes. And that’s the point. These things shouldn’t be off-limits.

‘I promise you’ve never seen anything like it’: Mark Thomas on Showtime from the Frontline

The rich material breaks down stereotypes, prejudices, media representations and – to one audience member’s surprise – the fourth wall.

Within minutes of them stepping on-stage, Faisal and Alaa shake off whatever stale preconceptions might be lingering about what it means to be a refugee, and are instead two comedians telling their stories (and sharply funny ones at that).

Among the highlights are an anecdote about bumping into Palestinian heroine Leila Khaled, and getting to see real-life footage of the rest of the stand-up class perform their routines. You’ll be Youtube-ing them the moment you step out the theatre to see more.

After two hilarious and throught-provoking acts, the show ends with a musing from Mark on the power of laughing at those in power.

He said: “Dictators can control the law, the media, business, the military.

“But they can’t control what’s scrawled on the back of a toilet room door – the last bastion of free speech.”