Andrew Maxwell has the reputation of a brilliantly acerbic tongue, which he has used to great effect against many of the world’s most stupid and ridiculous injustices. Having recently turned 50, Maxwell appears to have mellowed a little, with the confidence to take the pace of his show a little slower, a little less cut-throat. Don’t be entirely fooled – the sharpness of his wit and the clarity of comedic rage can still be turned on with barely a moments notice. This is particularly obvious when he discusses immigration and integration, with a more serious aim behind the laughs, and on a more lighthearted note, when he jokes about the insatiable desire women in Essex have for a thick-necked man.

The more relaxed nature of the show allows for Maxwell to really flex his muscle as a storyteller. A joke about how Liz Truss was the straw that finally broke the long reign of the Queen enjoys a long set-up where the ending is clear from the start – but Maxwell is so gifted, and so in tune with the mood of the crowd, this adds to rather than detracts from the punchline. Multiple laughs are also mined from the placing of a tablet portal between New York and Dublin, with comedic intolerance on both sides of the Atlantic. There aren’t any particularly new observations on display – the material is fairly standard for a certain type of middle age-induced musings, with segments on having the house to yourself, the perils of texting and a little Millennial poking – but it’s the journey and how Maxwell takes us there which is the point. Just because an observation isn’t original, doesn’t mean it’s not a delight to hear.

The show moves into more reflective territory towards the end, as Maxwell talks about his father’s passing and the rituals that they used to share together, largely centred around rugby. The story of being back home in Dublin and heading towards an international game twists and turns through quiet grief, the audience hanging on every word – until Maxwell pulls out a punchline that is sweet, joyful and completely unexpected. A softer end to a slower-paced show – but no less funny for that.