First things first, Boothby Graffoe is a very nice man. We all liked him as soon as we walked in the door, and we liked him even more when we left. He's funny, warm, charming and self deprecating in that classic northern way, that all southerners seem to fall for instantly.

 

As it says on the tin, 'this show is a work in progress'. To all appearances it's going to be about scratch cards. This sounds like it might open all sorts of doors: probability, luck, gambling, addiction, happiness and loss - and the finished show might just do that. What we saw tonight was the bones of a great idea wrapped up in some hilarious improvised comedy.

 

We gathered as a modest sized audience, which never feels too small in the wonderful BT studio, from the piano teacher to the audio sculptor, we settled in for comedy and insight. Some strangely haunting songs and a hearty dose of audience interaction later we were warmed up for the main act. What are scratch cards all about then? A question this show doesn't yet have the answer to. There are great moments, an impressively handmade wheel of fortune and lots of material ripe for mining in a future show.

 

Heading to the pub after with some new friends we made while watching the show (it was very much that kind of atmosphere), we wished Boothby had come with us so we could chip in all our ideas about what the show might become. I've seen plenty of performances that need a bit of work, but none that have admitted it quite so openly as this one, and that was refreshing. If I see Scratch coming back through Oxford in a year's time I'll definitely be booking a ticket.