Glasgow’s star ‘short guy with glasses’ (original wording redacted) Christopher Macarthur-Boyd is back with a solid set. 2025’s show Howling at the Moon is a late night jazz bar-costumed show on the countless implications of nostalgia, sexual ruminations, and reliable cultural riffs on Scotland, England, and Britain. Not to mention a healthy dose of Attenborough love-in.
The 32-year-old revels in self-deprecation – roughly summarised as an Elf on the Shelf with raised-by-grandparents energy – while confidently self-assured enough to easily command a room. This set is packed with strong material as Macarthur-Boyd jumps from bit to bit, sometimes a little jarringly, but he never fails to draw big laughs from a sold out crowd, even while covering a small handful of slip-ups. This is in no small part thanks to a workman-like professionalism and charming charisma that make him such a natural at stand-up.
Macarthur-Boyd is fresh off a WIP tour and later mentions that his family suffered a sad loss just two days before this show. Nonetheless, after taking last year’s Fringe off, the TV and podcast star still feels like he’s in his stride and rises above his personal challenges to provide a pretty certain hour of top comedy.
Christopher Macarthur-Boyd: Howling at the Moon, Monkey Barrel Comedy, until 24 Aug (not 6, 13), 9pm