Christian Schulte-Loh

Christian Schulte-Loh

Blackfriars Basement

So here we are in a bunker with a German doing all of the talking. Fingers crossed it works out better than the last time this happened ... I reckon I can get away with that opening gag because Christian Schulte-Loh more or less used it himself. And all the obvious ones about being "a funny German". Like many young stand-ups just getting started on the touring circuit, a hefty percentage of his material relies on travelling abroad and the national stereotypes he encounters along the way. He also, for the first half of his act, spends too much time asking the audience their names and where they're from, especially when he seems at a loss as to what to do if the replies don't provide instant comedy gold.

After the break, however, his confidence grows as he performs pre-prepared routines (Arnie reading the Genesis chapter of the Schwarzenegger Bible; observations on British health-and-safety obsessions) and gets better payback from audience interaction - so maybe all that early effort was indeed worthwhile. A really likeable, lanky presence (he's 6ft 7in - another seam of self-deprecating humour), he does make the gig feel specific to this crowd, this room, this festival. With a bit more experience and stronger material, he'll be one to watch.