Paul Coulter's 5 Mistakes That Changed History, Assembly George Square

Coulter combines deep historical knowledge with the instincts of a seasoned comic, he moves through his chosen stories with the humour of a stand-up set and the rigour of a lecture, never letting either side slip.

One of the shows greatest attributes is Coulter’s ability to connect the past to the present day, whether that's tying nineteenth-century sharpshooter Annie Oakley's fame to Taylor Swift's stadium-filling stardom, or peppering his slides with memes and viral clips to keep the audience laughing. It's a neat trick: the history is genuinely informative, but it never feels like a lecture.

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He moves seamlessly through history from the 16th century French court of Henry II and his fatal jousting accident that led to Mary Queen of Scots arrival in Scotland, to the NASA mission that first sent man to the moon and the toddler that made this possible, spinning stories that are as funny as they are informative. Whether it's the story of the Mona Lisa's rise to fame or the origins of the Pharos’ curse, the comedy never undercuts the substance of the tale, guaranteeing everyone will leave having learned and laughed.

An hour with Coulter doesn't feel like a lecture, even though you'll walk out knowing more than when you walked in, and that's a rare balance to strike.

Funny, smart, and thoroughly deserving of a full house.

Runs until Aug 30

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