100 Acts of Minor Dissent

Mark Thomas at the Seagull Theatre, Lowestoft

Review published in Eastern Daily Press, 15 June 2013

Political activist and comedian Mark Thomas’ one man stand-up show, 100 Acts of Minor Dissent is touring before the Edinburgh Festival.

It’s timely, sharp, keenly observed and sends the thrill of the possible down the spines of people becoming numbed by the way life is.

He makes his dissent sound reasonable. The little acts of rebellion against authority are frequently subversive, anarchic, mainly legal and invariably cleverly funny.

He labels himself ‘normal’, married with children and 50 years old. His self-imposed task is 100 actions to highlight stupidities, loss of individualism and corporatism in a year.

His targets are tax-light companies like Amazon, shops like Harrods and Selfridges, misleading brands, bankers, pornography and politicians.

Rapid-fire one-liners are followed by a tale about arms dealers and being arrested that calls into question the law and what is ‘acceptable’.

He shares ‘policies’ that towns have come up with as he travels around Britain, all hilarious, some a tad self-righteous.

People can join his fightback against loss of freedom of choice, or they can just admire his entertaining skills.