In spite of everything, Ian Stone is trying to keep it together. But what does it matter that he has all his own hair and teeth and keeps a tight control over his between meal snacking when the country is a mess, there’s war in the middle east and Donald Trump could be allowed back into the White House?

A masterful exponent of self-mocking Jewish humour - The Times ****

Seriously funny - The Guardian.

One of the sharpest comic minds in the country - Romesh Ranganathan

Winner - Spirit of The Fringe 2023

August 25, 2024   Edinburgh Evening News

10 Jokes From the Final Week of This Year's Fringe

2. Ian Stone
Ian Stone, whose Ian Stone Is Keeping It Together show is on at Laughing Horse at The Counting House - The Ballroom, 4pm until August 25 told this funny football-related joke: “As a surprise on their honeymoon, my dad took my mother to a Bournemouth against Brentford football match in the fourth division. I can’t believe she stayed with him for 20 years. Actually, I can’t believe she stayed with him for the second half." | Elliot-Minogue Stone Click Here For Article

August 23, 2024    Chortle

3.5 stars

There are several comics who have been on the circuit for such a long time that they’re in danger of being taken for granted. Ian Stone – Stoney to his pals – is a good example. He’s such an accomplished and likeable practitioner that he makes this job look like a doddle.

He eases us in with twinkly charm, suggesting that ‘I’m keeping it together’ is the best way to respond when someone asks how you are, given that ‘I’m fine’ is simply not a true indication of the amount of effort life requires.

We get some fun stories about how much racism you can tolerate, the joys of being able to deploy the ‘wanker' sign in UK traffic without being shot, what it’s like playing five-a-side with Jewish pals of a similar age (he’s 61 now), and what the game teaches you about life. There’s also a gorgeous gag about Keir Starmer’s charisma.

Stone then draws us into a fascinating story about his parents’ backgrounds, delivered in part to illustrate why his nonagenarian dad is still the ‘selfish prick he always was’. We get a brilliant tale about his father phoning in a bomb threat to the postal sorting office where he worked so he didn’t have to go back to work after lunch, and a jaw-dropping glimpse into old Ken’s idea of romance during his November honeymoon in Bournemouth.

Applying the lightest touch to family history, he shares insights about how, when and why his parents’ families moved from Poland to the UK, and it all sounds like a movie - as his knowing reference to Fiddler On The Roof confirms.

You could enjoy this laugh-heavy hour from this likeable pro as a straightforward, easy stand-up set, or you could listen closer and appreciate the subtle message: that little problems get bigger if you don’t address them quickly. Either way, you’ll walk away feeling satisfied. Click Here For Review

August 8, 2024    Entertainment Now

IF you want to know what it would be like to hear Sir David Attenborough commentating on Arsenal fans visiting Wolverhampton in the late 70s in the style of one of his celebrated nature documentaries, you need to head along to Ian Stone.

In fact, you should just head along anyway.

I hadn’t heard of “Stoney” as he calls himself before seeing him last year but he’s now one of my Fringe favourites.

He won the Spirit Of The Fringe last year for a simply hilarious hour, and for my money – and this is a pay-what-you-like Free Fringe show – this year’s hour is just as good.

Stoney is described as a master of self-deprecating Jewish humour but he’s much more than that and is simply one of the sharpest and funniest stand-ups on the circuit today.

And he brings both of those angles together at one point when a bit of audience interaction threatens to backfire. Asking what various members of the near-capacity crowd last protested about, there’s an audible gasp when one young fella says “Palestine”.

But Ian simply shrugs and grins, “Fair enough!”

I don’t know if it’s just the comics I’ve opted to see this year but a fair few are bemoaning getting older and directing some good-natured vitriol at those who haven’t orbited the suns quite so many times.

Stoney berates one 18-year-old chap, grousing, “You, with your firm skin and your hair – you can run up the stairs and have sex four times a night rather than it being one or the other.”

Four? Blimey.

I’m not here to reveal his best gags, and you really need to hear about his dad Ken’s attitude to work and Stoney’s racist fishmonger, but one line that rang a huge bell with me was, “We didn’t have FOMO cos fuck all was happening!”

Stoney makes comedy look effortless, so make the effort to see him. Click Here For Review

August 5, 2024    One4Review

Ian Stone has been a well-respected stalwart on the comedy scene for decades, so it is no wonder that in what was his first show of 2024, the queues for his venue were long, well before start time.

Stone is a relaxed performer, happy to greet his audience, organise his room, chat to some, all the time probably sussing out the dynamics of the crowd, also provide sources of material for him to ‘play’ with.

The amiable Stone chats, and let’s be honest draws multitudes of laughs on a whole host of subjects including rating anything and everything, getting older, his family and heritage, politics obviously, relationships and a number of stories about his beloved football. Well, he does host a very popular podcast on TV after all, not to mention radio shows too.

Ian uses the audience sparingly, but to effect. He has the nouse to involve without embarrassing. He appealed to a diverse age range and went down well with a large crowd of well-lubricated Austrians too.

It is always a good thing I feel when the gig is winding down and one feels that it has only just started and we want more. This was certainly the case here. His well-crafted set was a joy to behold.

As part of the Laughing Horse Free Festival, entry is free, however donations at the end should be made. Dig deep you would pay a lot of money elsewhere for inferior fare Click Here For Review