Susan Calman Tall Tales Tour Review: Raw, Riotous Comedy Comeback 2026

Susan Calman's Tall Tales tour marks her first standup show in a decade, and it's a raw, riotous return that proves the Glaswegian comic hasn't lost her touch. The new set, which premiered recently, is designed to reveal the real Susan behind the cuddly TV persona—though as she admits, that was also the premise of her 2016 touring show. Yet a decade away has done little to develop, and nothing to diminish, her onstage shtick. Instead, Tall Tales is a compelling comeback stuffed with fresh experiences and insights from her standup downtime, undergirded by familiar tales of cat fancying, being small, and entering menopause, all woven with a heartfelt reckoning with recent bereavement and rocky mental health.

Susan Calman Tall Tales Tour: A Raw and Riotous Comeback

That last material feels raw. Calman tells us she only returned to standup—the thing she feared the most, she says—to shock herself out of a bad depression. It's a startling admission from a performer who, on stage, seems utterly in her element: faux truculent but palpably adorable, fulminating at the indignities of short, lesbian, middle-aged womanhood, and revealing the unseen idiocies of her gilded TV career. Her supposed flaws are arrayed for our pleasure: her catastrophising (cue a fun anecdote about being trapped on a hotel balcony), her addictive personality, and—in the peachy set-piece that closes act one—her hormonal lust for righteous revenge. That number, about her newfound love for golf, finds Calman at her best, when the occasionally generic midlife patter becomes uniquely, idiosyncratically hers.

Key Takeaways from the Show

• First tour in 10 years: Calman's comeback is a masterclass in blending personal trauma with crowd-pleasing humour.
• Raw emotional honesty: Bereavement and mental health struggles are tackled head-on, adding depth to the laughs.
• Signature shtick intact: Cat fancying, short jokes, and menopause musings remain, but with fresh perspective.
• Golf set-piece shines: The act one closer about her love for golf is a standout, showcasing her unique voice.

What to Expect from Susan Calman's Tall Tales

The show is structured around Calman's life experiences since her last tour, but don't expect a radical departure. Fans of her TV work—from Strictly Come Dancing to Secret Scotland—will recognise the same self-deprecating charm. However, Tall Tales digs deeper, offering a window into her struggles with depression and loss. It's this vulnerability that makes the comedy resonate. The pacing is brisk, with anecdotal detours that feel both scripted and spontaneous. Calman's delivery remains sharp, her timing impeccable, and her ability to turn mundane observations into riotous set-pieces is undimmed.

Susan Calman Tall Tales Tour Dates and Ticket Information

The tour is set to travel across the UK, with dates in major cities. Given the buzz, tickets are selling fast. Below is a comparison of the tour's key aspects against her previous 2016 show.

Why Susan Calman's Comeback Matters

In an era where comedy often plays it safe, Calman's willingness to confront her darkest moments is refreshing. She uses humour not as a shield but as a bridge, inviting the audience into her world. The show's title, Tall Tales, is ironic—Calman is famously small—but it also hints at the tall order of balancing entertainment with authenticity. She succeeds. The standing ovation at the end is well-deserved, a testament to her enduring appeal and her courage in returning to the stage.

FAQ