WE don’t get enough comedy at the Harlow Playhouse. We understand that well known comedians are expensive. But it would be good to see more up and coming comedians.

On Thursday night we had Fiona Ridgewell and Ross McGrane at Theatre 2 at the Harlow Playhouse.

This was a highly entertaining two hours as part of a Pay What You Can promotion and as there were over sixty in the audience it was clearly a success.

Both shows were also works in progress as they were both going up to the Edinburgh Festival (world’s largest arts festival-no pressure) in August.

Fiona Ridgewell’s act is based around a 35-year-old woman whose life is at a particular stage.

It is a show that starts slowly and warms up a great deal. You start to inhabit Fiona’s world which has the right degree of charm, self deprecation and humour.

Whether it is long necks or Muy Thai Boxing it was a funny hour in Fiona’s life and what’s more, the audience really enjoyed it.

Ross McGrane was like a Southend version of Rob Beckett. More strident than Fiona, his word was brash and bold.

Again, there was a lot of zeitgeist in there and a welcome look into his world.

All the best to both at Edinburgh.

Fiona is at https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/fiona-ridgewell-no-nonsense

Ross is at https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ross-mcgrane-get-rich-or-cry-trying