After four long summers, Sheeps have rejoined the circuit, show-tuning their way into the Queen Dome at the Pleasance with an almost anti-comic, great homage to vintage musical comedy.

Excellently choreographed, with each of this trio’s personality quickly gathered by the audience - or remembered, for the returning fans who came, too like sheeps, in their droves. There’s Al (Roberts), the ‘confident one’ bolstered by his long term relationship. Then we have Liam (Williams), the gravel-voiced northerner giddy on a burgeoning relationship. And we’re left with Jonno (Daran Johnson), isolated by his recent heartbreak, we soon learn that it is this that brings the band back together, turning their retirement from sketch comedy into more of a hiatus.

Brought back together by Jonno’s heartache and desire for some nostalgia-driven silliness, we’re taken through some unsurprising sketch scenarios from three early-thirties woke blokes - East London tech bros - with a signature Sheeps twist - ... with an in-house riddler. And as we amble through these well-executed sketches, darting from surrealism set in a restaurant to arguably the set piece that harks back to the meta-territory of their 2014 show, as the trio try to get a sketch *exactly* right, the reasons become clearer as to why Jonno was so keen to reform. Exhibiting the existential dread common to post-relationship solitude, Jonno’s questioning of the meaning of life is brilliantly exacerbated by the apparition of nobody’s favourite academic Jordan B Peterson (played to perfection by Roberts). His provocative ideas thankfully don’t sit with Jonno, but they certainly provoke him to action.

Along with Jonno’s philosophical diversions, there is the to-be-expected political satire, though this time by way of Syria. The ‘first-world-problems’ conceit is well thought-out, and deserved, but it stands out most for being the only sketch with a truly powerful punch, and leaves one wanting more of this sort, to give greater weight to the show as a whole.

The nostalgic trip Jonno wanted this very much is, and the laughter proves that we’re all suckers for it at heart. But I can’t help wondering if there is some truth to the faux-unwillingness to the trio’s return. For all the undeniable stage-presence these three bring, there are more cobwebs to be cleared before they’re moving as seamless as before. 

Sheeps: Live and Loud Selfie Sex Harry Potter is at Pleasance Dome until August 27. Tickets here.

Read more Edinburgh Fringe reviews here.

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