Stuart Taylor delivers brutal honesty and big laughs in his new show 'Odd Man Out'

Stuart Taylor has cemented his status as a household name in comedy, boasting a career that spans over two decades in the industry. And he is back with a new show. 

“Odd Man Out” is worth checking out if you're looking for something to help you destress from the year-end fatigue that has set in. Be prepared to fight back tears - but from laughter - as this show is sure to deliver.

In a recent chat with him ahead of the Joburg run, he unpacked the genesis of the show. 

“The idea came from my deep personal need ... to overshare. But truly, ‘Odd Man Out’ was born from that awkward space we all find ourselves in as adults. You're in your 40s, raising teenagers who think you're cringe, trying to stay married without Googling ‘marriage hacks’, and wondering why your lower back is filing for early retirement.

“I’ve always felt like I didn’t quite fit in. Not in school, not on stage, not even at the gym. So I decided to build a show around that. ‘Odd Man Out’ is part comedy, part confession, and part group therapy - just with a bar.”

Of course, he’s fine-tuned the show while performing it, and he’s admitting to tapering it for the Joburg fans. 

He noted: “The show’s definitely evolved. Some lines land harder in Joburg, especially the stuff about private schools, side hustles, and parenting with Wi-Fi passwords as currency. So I’ve tailored the material to suit Jozi’s sharpness, its pace, and your love for a solid clap-back.”

Without ruining any punchlines, he gave an overview of what the audience can brace themselves for. 

“Expect to laugh at things you didn’t know were funny - like your own middle-aged meltdown. ‘Odd Man Out’ is a brutally honest, hilariously awkward look at suburban life, marriage, fatherhood, and ageing knees,” he shared. 

“It's full of punchlines that sound suspiciously like things you've mumbled to yourself in the Woolies queue. There’s also some storytelling, a touch of magic (yes, really), and moments where you'll laugh so hard, you'll look suspicious in the parking lot afterwards.”

With 25 years of experience under his belt, Taylor shared his biggest takeaways from being on stage.. 

“Two things: authenticity and evolution. Audiences are smart. They can smell recycled material like week-old boerewors. I try to keep it real, keep it fresh, and keep the ego out of the room (unless I’m playing a magician - then I double down on ego).

“Also, I listen. I read the room. I don’t just throw punchlines - I build a relationship with the crowd. Whether it’s through ‘Odd Man Out’ or ‘The Learner Husband’ podcast, I’m always trying to talk about the stuff we’re all trying to figure out … just with more jokes and less emotional damage.”

Speaking of the podcast, I asked him whether it will maybe inform future shows. 

He admitted: “It started because I realised there were just too many things about marriage that I wished came with a user manual. And if I was going to mess up publicly, I might as well put a mic on it. It's a mix of banter, honest conversation, and interviews with other people also winging it through love and life.

“The response has been phenomenal - people laugh, cry, and send me DMs like, ‘Please tell my husband this’.”

“It’s definitely feeding future shows. In fact,’ Odd Man Out’ is like the live-action cousin of the podcast. And I’ve already got plans for a ‘Learner Husband LIVE tour’ ... once I’ve cleared it with my actual wife.”

Where: Theatre on the Square in Sandton. 

When: Runs until November 23.