Self-professed ‘posh twat’ Ivo Graham performs at one of the largest venues of his Fringe career at the aptly named Pleasance Grand, as he takes us through his own grand designs and how life doesn’t always follow our plans.

Graham’s love for music and PowerPoint would be known to those who’ve attended his ‘Comedians’ DJ Battles‘ before at Fringe. And he makes full use of both in his solo stand-up hour. A slide with newly appearing bullet points is projected on a large screen as we settle into our seats, encouraging amused laughs and chat among the crowd. Graham enters with high energy, which he maintains throughout. The continuing presentation and the clicker in his hand make this one of the most unhinged TED talks you’ll attend, complete with Venn diagrams about Eton boys ejaculating onto biscuits.

About the first twenty minutes of the show are targeted at British football fans, those well-versed in the intricacies of British MPs and other culturally specific (often quite posh) references. Even as someone who’s been in the UK for over five years, most of them flew over my head (I’m not posh either) but were enjoyed by a majority at the night of this performance. Audience engagement is where Graham shines. The front row participates in a crucial survey for crisp flavour preferences, and a woman is insistently questioned about leaving the venue to refill her water. Graham makes the best use of a timer for her expected return, the audience abetting with a vocal countdown in the last ten seconds – alas to her never reappearing.

The second half of the show is more broadly appealing in scope. He paints grand designs for his annual bonding exercise with his father at a concert, though of course Graham is cockblocked by some family friends. He also discusses organising a stag do for a friend, only for them to spend their day at a James Joyce museum to seek shelter from the weather (they are not Joyce fans). His bits about his daughter are not only endearing but humorous.

Graham ends the show with another slightly niche reference, musical this time, though with a literal bang. He and a volunteer shoot confetti cannons at the drop of the beat, convincing us that that’s how every show should conclude.

‘Grand Designs‘ is at Pleasance Courtyard – Grand until Sun 25 Aug 2024 at 21.20