EDINBURGH 2018: Review: CHRIS FORBES: PROPHECY, Gilded Balloon Teviot

Chris Forbes is known best to many for his role as PC Charlie McIntosh in hit Scottish police comedy series Scot Squad. Now, he turns his attention to religion after a chance encounter with the son of God at Glasgow's Nelson Mandela Place.

Prophecy is a little different to many other shows at the Fringe. Forbes begins by telling how he met the son of God, a man called Malcolm, on a street in Glasgow and interviewed him to find out more about his claim.

This leads to an interesting conversation that makes for the foundations of this particular show. Forbes takes an entertaining walk through his own religious upbringing in the Free Church of Scotland and then focuses on his encounter with Malcolm.

The subject is a bit of a strange one, and there are no 'big' laughs in the show as such, yet it turns out rather more thought-provoking than one might expect. As sons of God go, Malcolm is pretty clued up on his theology, which leads to an interesting revelation at the end of his interview.

There is room for a more overt comedy in the show, which is better described as a funny conversation piece than stand-up, as it is listed in the Fringe guide. Nonetheless, it's an entertaining hour in the company of a gifted storyteller whose charm ensures the show never gets as far as ridicule for Malcom - or indeed religion more generally.

It's safe to say you will never listen to "Wonderwall" the same again, but for a light-hearted exploration of religion, and a little bit of theology along the way, Prophecy is a safe bet for those seeking something more than just comedy this Fringe season.

Chris Forbes: Prophecy at Gilded Balloon Teviot until 27 August

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