Nicola Mantalios: Zoe Explains It All

Nicola Mantalios brings Zoe Explains It All to Komedia on Thursday 19 November, with the show running at 8:00 pm and doors opening at 7:30 pm. It's a full hour of stand-up, puppetry and lip sync, all delivered by Mantalios, who's described as one of those wonderfully esoteric comedians with natural funny bones and a transcendent sense of humour.

The show centres on Zoe, a character Mantalios builds from the ground up: socially obtuse, dog-loving, and edge-dwelling, she's free from the constraints of charm and takes the audience on a ride through a truly original way of viewing the world. It's not just a stand-up set, though — the puppetry and lip sync are woven in, and the whole thing is billed as a chaotic hour. If you're used to the more conventional end of the comedy spectrum, that's a good place to start: Zoe isn't here to be liked in the usual way, and the show doesn't try to smooth her edges. Instead, the comedy comes from watching her navigate the world from her own particular vantage point.

Mantalios is the one behind the character, and the description of her as an esoteric comedian fits the bill — this is a show that leans into the odd and the specific rather than the broad. The puppetry and lip sync aren't just additions; they're part of how the hour is built, and they're all handled by Mantalios herself. It's a character-led piece that lets Zoe do the heavy lifting, with Mantalios providing the voice and the timing.

It's at Komedia Studio, part of Komedia Brighton at 44-47 Gardner Street, BN1 1UN. The show starts at 8:00 pm, with doors open from 7:30 pm, so you've got plenty of time to get settled before Zoe takes over.