At the ripe old age of four, Will Roland demanded there be candlelight at the dinner table while he ate, no big light nonsense. Last year he went wild water swimming with his friends and explained that the bridge they were pointing at was in fact a viaduct. Having studied at private school and then gone on to study philosophy, right from the get-go, Roland admits to being the stereotypical smart-arse friend and to not let his dimples mislead you. Right from this introduction, Roland is absolutely hilarious, to the extent that cackles were reverberating around Banshee’s cosy cinema room.
Centred around the meaning of life (he did study philosophy after all), Sunshine by Candlelight created a beautiful balance between relatable questions about life, what it means to be human, and a hilarious insight into Roland’s unfiltered thoughts. Ranging from his severe hatred of Bill Bryson, to the awkwardness of being sat back-to-back with your friends on the train, to the surreal feeling of having dirt go between your toes, Sunshine by Candlelight is guaranteed to be relatable and funny to any audience.
Despite his jam-packed stand-up set, Roland never once faltered but instead seamlessly hit every punchline, even with spontaneous audience participation. And his show certainly packed a punch, with the never-ending stream of jokes leaving the audience gasping for breath. Overall, with the warmth of Roland’s performance and obvious amusement he takes from himself and the audience, Sunshine by Candlelight does really brighten your day and leave you wanting more.
With his quick wit and charm, it’s honestly a marvel that Will Roland isn’t a household name and that Sunshine by Candlelight is a free, non-ticketed show. A consistently funny performance, Sunshine by Candlelight is one of my top must-see comedy recommendations for the Fringe this year, and Will Roland is certainly one to watch.
Will Roland: Sunshine by Candlelight is running until 23 August (excluding 13th) at Cinema Room, Banshee Labyrinth.
Buy tickets here.
Image courtesy of Georgia House, provided to The Student as press material