Susie McCabe: Coming of Rage is a gloriously angry stand-up show that pokes fun at every aspect of McCabe’s life, from Scottish culture to religion and politics. Lamenting the stress of middle-aged lesbian dating and the effort it takes to arrange a funeral with a particularly annoying priest, she weaves together stories without being afraid to self-deprecate, showing she can give it as well as take it.
The show’s title, Coming of Rage, reflects McCabe’s changing views on the world after two failed marriages and the death of her father. She is able to find the humour in the new experiences this has brought, pointing out the difficulty in finding sympathy in Scotland and considering the pros of dating a pensioner. The bulk of the show consists of rage-filled, swear-laden rants, directed at old ladies and religious clergy alike. The crowd is sucked into her stories, beginning to share the rage with her, bringing a new level of cathartic enjoyment to the experience.
The last quarter of the show, however, loses steam, as McCabe launches into a typically angry polemic on the views of older generations. For a comedy show, this isn’t funny, and isn’t meant to be, leaving it feeling quite self-indulgent. In this segment, she also attempts to analyse the behaviour and emotions of those in Generation Z. While this is in good faith, intended to be a defence against criticism from older generations, I found myself disagreeing with her views, and wondering why this 46-year-old woman feels that she is an authority on the Gen Z experience. The decision to do material based on Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off in 2026 was also unusual.
Susie McCabe: Coming of Rage ran until 30 August at Gordon Aikman Theatre at Assembly George Square.
Image provided by Assembly Press Team to The Student as press material.
