Max Fulham: Full of Ham

Max is, hands down, the most technically skilled ventriloquist I’ve ever seen live. That alone is impressive—but pair it with his irresistible charm, razor-sharp wit, and that mischievous twinkle in his eye, and you’ve got a performer who has the audience eating out of the palm of his hand within minutes (well, maybe not literally—his hands are pretty full with puppets).

"Full of Ham" is an ambitious, playful hour that mixes stand-up, puppetry, and a healthy dose of audience participation. The show opens with a slower pace than expected, leaning more heavily into stand-up than ventriloquism early on. While this may take a moment to settle into, Max’s easy charisma keeps the room engaged, and once the puppets properly enter the scene—including, yes, an actual slab of talking ham—it’s clear we’re in for something delightfully offbeat.

One of the more unexpected characters is the “intrusive thought” box—an imaginative addition that brings some surreal humour and an interesting narrative thread. It’s cleverly executed and adds a layer of inner chaos that’s both relatable and entertaining. That said, its appearances occasionally slow the show’s momentum slightly, especially when layered with more dialogue-driven moments. With a little trimming or tighter pacing, it could be even more effective.

Some of the standout moments come when Max brings the audience into the act—these bits are fun, fast-paced, and genuinely interactive without ever feeling forced. And then there’s Eugene—his curmudgeonly, lovingly-crafted grandad puppet—who steals the show every time he appears. If anything, we could’ve done with even more Eugene. His segments could easily be extended without overstaying their welcome, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up with his own spin-off one day.

One sketch involving a self-checkout machine takes a little longer to land than others. It’s got a solid premise and some great one-liners, but it could be trimmed slightly for pace. Similarly, the balance between stand-up and puppetry felt just a touch uneven overall—I found myself wanting more time with the puppets, simply because Max is so good at what he does with them.

The show wraps up with a high-energy finale that’s wonderfully silly and full of chaotic joy—a reminder that Max knows exactly how to leave a crowd smiling.

"Full of Ham" is a bold, silly, and skilfully executed show that showcases Max Fulham as a performer with not only world-class ventriloquism skills, but also natural comedic timing and charm to burn. It’s not without a few pacing wobbles, and some sketches could benefit from a bit more (or less) time on stage—but even so, it’s an hour brimming with creativity, laughs, and one gloriously ridiculous ham. Max is the real deal, and this show confirms he’s got even more up his sleeve (and behind his puppet curtain) for the future.