EDINBURGH 2011: BWW Reviews: JOSIE LONG, THE FUTURE IS ANOTHER PLACE, Pleasance, Potterow, Aug 6 2011

Clare Maddox

Josie's come a Long way from the crayon scrawls and hand-knitted whimsy of her first Edinburgh show. Back then we heard how she'd been mistaken for a child with learning difficulties ... now, we get politics, Portillo passion and terrifying brushes with death.

While her lovingly handmade show programme still survives, it now comes complete with an oxymoronic Tory Fun Page, although she's at pains to stress that she turned down a stint on Question Time this year. She speaks about her involvement with protest group UK Uncut with all the fervour of the new convert, and eagerly makes common cause with student protesters, library campaigners and NHS staff.

A heckle for her tuition fees diatribe shakes her slightly, and it's clear she's still endearingly nervous despite her fame. Those familiar with the early shows or her 6Music banter with Andrew Collins might yearn for more of the funny and less of the rant, but the huge reserves of Edinburgh goodwill she's built up carry her through, plus there's still random history jokes and a surreal Bronte sketch to keep the faithful happy.

She's great at taking her old meandering stories and giving them a political jolt-as in the unexpected punchline to her tale of new 'flatmate' Andrew. From the Black Panthers to the somewhat less radical John Bercow, the show's packed with politics and protest culture, and her infectious optimism fills the room. Josie's keen for us to get off our sofas and get involved - and that means more than staying in and making up a new dance routine to the Question Time theme tune. The future is another place - and it's in the streets.

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