On a cold, bleak, Tuesday night in Sheffield, the dynamic trio of Greg James, Jimmy Anderson and Felix White lit up City Hall with their lively show Tailenders Live.
The performance was a unique, hybrid mix between a band’s gig and a stand-up comedy routine. Each of the three hosts brought something special to the table: Greg James provided natural presentation skills, Felix White and his band produced some brilliant musical interludes, and Jimmy Anderson supplied expert cricket knowledge.
The show, a live-action version of the hit podcast Tailenders, is built on chemistry within the trio. It is clear to see that James, White and Anderson are incredibly close, allowing for a relatable, hilarious show that entertains all members of the audience.
While the show does revolve around cricket and topical events within the sport, I believe that anybody would find the performance amusing, even if they had not listened to the podcast before or if they had little to no cricket knowledge.
For example, there is a section of the performance where Jimmy Anderson explains his bowling technique, demonstrating this along with fellow county cricketer Wayne Madsen in a mini-game of quick cricket.
However, just 10 minutes before that, we saw Anderson dress up as a doctor and perform a sketch which left the audience in stitches.
A large emphasis of the production is on Felix White and his band The Tailenders. They play music throughout almost the entire show, getting the audience up on their feet regularly to sing, clap or dance.
This is why Tailenders Live is extremely difficult to explain, especially to those who have not listened to the podcast. You really must see it to get the gist. There are several different formats to the show, nearly all of which have been designed to incorporate the audience into proceedings.
In short, Tailenders Live is a topical cricket-based comedy show which dazzles the audience with its humour, music and vitality. James, Anderson and White combine to create a witty and relatable performance; one which certainly can be classed as a ‘must-see’ for cricket fans in Sheffield.
Rating: ★★★★
Image Credit: Sheffield City Hall
