Chris Kent at The Marquee: Still Funny, but missing the Spark

Show date: 11th July, 2025 – The Marquee, Cork

Last weekend, I went to see Chris Kent at The Marquee in Cork — and as always, the man knows how to land a laugh. His material is still as sharp and relatable as ever, full of that unmistakable Cork charm. From stories about family life to the subtle chaos of everyday Irish living, Kent has this effortless way of making you feel like you're just having a chat with a very funny old friend.

His jokes are pure Cork — and I don’t just mean the accent. It’s the small things he picks up on, the local references, the way he captures the humour in stuff most of us wouldn’t think twice about. He has that unique ability to take the mundane and spin it into something funny and familiar. It’s what makes him an easy watch.

But — and I say this honestly — something felt a bit off this time.

Don’t get me wrong, it was still a decent night with some good laughs. But I couldn’t help comparing it to his show at the Everyman Theatre last year. That performance had something this one lacked: energy, passion, presence. At the Everyman, Kent was totally in the zone, feeding off the room, telling stories like he was living them right there in front of us. There was a spark, a connection, a pace that kept the whole audience engaged from start to finish.

At The Marquee, some of that spark just didn’t translate. Maybe it was the bigger venue, or maybe it was just an off night. The delivery felt a bit more measured — more rehearsed than natural. Still funny, still clever, but it didn’t have quite the same punch.

That said, even if this show didn’t quite land the way I’d hoped, there’s still something enjoyable about watching a comedian who knows his crowd and reflects Cork life so naturally. I’ll definitely give him another go — and hopefully next time, he brings back that Everyman fire, because when he’s in his stride, Chris Kent can be genuinely entertaining.

Written by Lorna Haywood.