It’s always a joy to return to the Soho Theatre, and on this occasion, we were especially pleased to find ourselves in the cosy cabaret room downstairs. Small tables, low lighting, and a relaxed, clubby atmosphere created the perfect backdrop for Thor Stenhaug’s easy-going, conversational style which only enhanced his show.
Thor, a young Norwegian comic with a refreshingly original story, builds his debut hour around the unusual circumstances of his own existence: as the title suggests, One Night Stand Baby refers to the brief encounter between his parents more than two decades ago. That starting point could have been played purely for laughs, but Thor turns it into something much richer – a heartfelt, sharply observed exploration of family, identity, and belonging.
Having lived in London for several years, he mines the cultural contrasts between Norway and the UK with keen, mischievous insight. His asides about Norway’s enviable standard of living earn knowing, possibly envious, laughs from the British audience, while his affectionate jabs at London’s idiosyncrasies feel spot-on. There’s a deftness to his storytelling: the jokes land, but the comparisons also illuminate something deeper about how differently societies can function.
The heart of the show lies in his memories of growing up under the shared care of two parents who were never actually together. These anecdotes in equal parts of eccentricity and tenderness paint a picture of a childhood that was unconventional but full of love. He delivers them with an endearing bluntness, a touch of poetic exaggeration, and just enough satire to keep sentimentality to a minimum. The result is less a string of punchlines and more a beautifully shaped narrative that feels both personal and universally relatable.
What makes Thor so instantly likable is his manner on stage: he’s sociable, warm, and effortlessly engaging with his audience. Rather than mocking or humiliating the front rows, he chats with them as if he’s welcoming new friends into his living room. The room’s energy on the night we attended was buoyant and enthusiastic, helped, no doubt, by the visible pride of a sizeable Norwegian contingent cheering him on.
Thor is very funny, cheeky, open-hearted, and blessed with impeccable comic timing. He’s a performer with both charm and substance, and there’s a sense he’s only just beginning to hit his stride. His current Soho Theatre run is short, but he’ll be touring the UK soon, and on this evidence, his star is only going to rise.
Catch him now before the crowds do.
Review by Bernadette Lintunen
Following his sold out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Thor Stenhaug brings his critically acclaimed debut hour to Soho Theatre.
It’s the stuff of sitcoms – girl meets boy, girl goes home with boy, two months later girl finds out she’s expecting a baby. But this isn’t a sitcom: it’s Thor Stenhaug’s origin story. He’s the baby.
One Night Stand Baby is Thor Stenhaug’s debut hour and is a lighthearted, warm, slightly left field look at growing up as the baby created on a one-off evening of fun and frivolity.
Thor was conceived after a one night stand between his Mum and Dad in their native Norway. Together (but separately, they did not decide to couple up, sorry for the spoiler) they raised Thor into the man he is today: wholesome and well adjusted, the son of two people who made it work in not the most conventional of circumstances.
This is not a woe-is-me show, far from it. It’s a show about growing up not just as your parents’ son, but more than anything: their mutual friend.
THOR STENHAUG: ONE NIGHT STAND BABY
Soho Theatre Dean Street
17 to 20 September 2025
