Matty Hutson review: Playful, heartfelt show from an exceptional talent

Image: Ben Wood

Either you see yourself as an audience participation kind of gal or you don’t, but it’s kind of impossible not to want to be involved in Matty Hutson’s brand of crowd work.

For the exceptionally talented musical comedian, there’s not a jibe in sight, and the usual questions (what’s your name, what do you do…) that no one is ever really interested in hearing the answers to, let’s be honest, become tailored little musical snacks, each one a lovely surprise I’m not going to spoil.

Matty is immediately engaging and disarming, walking the line between spouting just the right amount of nonsense while also being sincere in a way that’s never cloying. Directed by Tom Parry, off of Pappy’s (who has a lil vocal cameo, as a treat), Don’t Hold Back is a playful, heartfelt show about being himself, taking off the mask and finding his place in the world — but it’s mainly and most importantly packed full of very funny songwriting.

There’s a song for every occasion you can imagine, some more immediately relatable than others (though I suspect the audience were being purposefully coy about admitting to attending sex parties solo — just let go, you guys, it’s 2023). Even a little technical hitch is accompanied by a jaunty tune.

The beauty of Matty’s songwriting is that all of these are gorgeously written pieces of music that I would genuinely listen to, even with the sharp midway about-turn into joke town. I can see myself being lulled to sleep (and probably yoinked out of it) by his soothing song about taking psychedelics; and I may not technically agree with the views expressed by his nice guy character, but it’s going in the playlist!

Using a screen behind him as a visual aid so you know whether to expect musical comedy or non-musical comedy, the whole hour is a brilliant platform for Matty’s extreme versatility in both arenas, showing there’s no reason to pigeonhole him either way.

Delightful, and extremely impressive.

Matty Hutson: Don’t Look Back is at Pleasance Courtyard (Attic), 7:15pm until August 27th (not 14th). Tickets here