Roger O’Sullivan’s new stand-up show Divil May Cry explores O’Sullivan’s working-class Irish background and candidly details the struggles of navigating the English-centred comedy world. O’Sullivan satirises his constant battle with being marketed solely for his niche Irish angle as he discusses the growing “trendiness” of Irish identity in the arts and grapples with his comedy’s success amid this new wave.
O’Sullivan incorporates unique video game animations into his set, which not only support his storytelling comedy style but also elevate his performance aesthetically. Beginning with a video of making a deal with the devil to become the greatest comedian who ever lived, O’Sullivan sets the tone for animation as an assistant to his witticisms throughout the show.
O’Sullivan discusses growing up working-class and his decision to pursue his dream despite dismay back home in Ireland and from producers and comedy naysayers in London. Yet despite O’Sullivan’s focus on his turbulent journey to success, he kept the audience howling throughout. O’Sullivan frankly discusses the reality of trying to break into comedy with no familial connections in rural Ireland, where, he remarks, ambition is sinful. He jokingly describes himself several times as a “peasant boy” who is in luck as the Irish identity becomes “trendy” in 2026, and he finds himself with his own form of unexpected nepotism.
Watching O’Sullivan, it’s clear the producers who dismissed him as too niche were blind to the universality of his charisma and quick wit. O’Sullivan’s dry delivery, paired with his meticulously constructed jokes, left the audience shrieking with laughter. If his clicker that measured how much the audience laughed is anything to go by, O’Sullivan is smashing it in the comedy world. O’Sullivan was nominated for the Sean Lock Award in 2025, and it is easy to see why, as he embodies the legacy of Lock’s coolness and razor-sharp wit.
This show is not simply a standout comedy performance, but it is interwoven with a message about pursuing a dream despite the odds. It is refreshingly honest about the tribulations of the arts, but nonetheless definitive in the decision to pursue it anyway — when exiting the venue, I was left thankful that O’Sullivan stuck with it, as he is a refreshing addition to the comedy scene and definitely one to look out for.
Roger O’Sullivan: Divil May Cry is performing until the 30 August at Monkey Barrell. Buy Tickets here.
Image provided by PARKAS Comedy at Independent Talent Group for press use.
