EDINBURGH 2016 - Review: PETE OTWAY SIX YEARS FROM THEN, Just The Tonic, 13 August

Presenting his debut hour, Pete Otway has decided to tell the biggest story of his life. It's a love story of how he met his girlfriend when he was only 12 years old. This being an Edinburgh comedy show, it isn't all smooth sailing, and his tale makes for a hilarious and touching performance.

After breaking up with his girlfriend when he was 18, Otway started experiencing intrusive thoughts. A form of OCD, he became convinced that he was going to hurt someone that he loved. The comedy in this set is well-timed and has been delicately balanced with such a personal story.

One of the things I really liked about Six Years From Then is that it starts a conversation. Few people appeared to know what Otway was talking about when he mentioned intrusive thoughts initially, and he was able to explain it clearly. He talked about his experience of therapy, which isn't widely discussed, and I feel like he may have reassured people who were initially slightly unsettled by his disclosure.

Six Years From Then is essentially a love story, but there many excellent anecdotes throughout and a huge heart at the centre of it.

Pete Otway: Six Years From Then runs at Just The Tonic until 28 August.

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