Introduced as “half Spanish, half Welsh, all funny”, Ignacio Lopez has over recent years established himself beyond the comedy club circuit with appearances on Live at the Apollo, various panel shows and several TV projects of his own. His Mediterranean good looks and thick Spanish accent belie a quick wit, a talent for sharp observational comedy and a very British sarcasm. His new tour, Nada, has been on the road for a while and will continue until the end of 2026, with his stop at The Stand in Newcastle a very welcome visit to a packed venue of (mainly) Geordies
A show of two halves, Nada is semi-improvised and largely based on audience interaction. The first part involves Lopez chatting with members of the audience and weaving in some existing material with witty conversation as he asks these people about aspects of their life. None of this is too meanspirited or mocking, so potential audience members should not be put off by this. However, the involvement of specific members of the public is always a risky endeavor, and almost predictably some of his chosen marks attempt their own comedy or are simply unwilling to reveal much to the assembled crowd. Thankfully, Lopez is able to handle all of this with aplomb, remaining charming while constantly steering the conversation the way he wants it to go.
After the interval, Lopez returns in costume as a private detective, working a case that involves all the people he spoke to and the information he collected in the first half. Although this is clearly based on a predetermined structure, Lopez displays a very quick comedic mind as he takes all the disparate information and manages to weave it into a mostly cohesive narrative. He and his backstage team are obviously very busy during the interval, as this mystery story is accompanied by projected images of locations, colloquialisms, and other specifics that were revealed by his previous conversations. While this is largely more clever than hilariously funny, the whole section perfectly illustrates Lopez’s sharp mind and innate comedic talents.
Lopez is an undeniable talent, and while his improv skills are on display for a large part of this show, it is his standup material that really shines. Stories about his mother’s obsession with Patrick Swazye, his Welsh hometown, and a surprisingly sweet tale of a visit to Venice all allow him to display his charisma and charm as he weaves the narrative. He is also best when making observations about British life from the perspective of a foreigner, with these mostly brilliantly negative insights showing that his edgier material is where he should concentrate.
Clocking in at nearly two hours with a 15 minute interval, Lopez certainly gives his audience their money’s worth, and while this would probably be improved by being tighter, spending time in the company of Lopez is an absolute delight.
Reviewed on 4th October 2026. Tours throughout the UK until December.
The Reviews Hub Score
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8
