Chris East’s brain – as the title of his first solo show at the Fringe suggests – is a chunky soup full of sketch ideas; and while it’s not entirely clear whether we’re eating a minestrone or gazpacho, you’re certainly in for a wild ride. There’s the exasperated PE teacher who’s trying to warn his class off talking to the creepy genie outside the school gates. There’s nine-year-old Chris East, whose hamster has died in a tragic, uh, ‘accident’. And of course, there’s the dog butcher – is that a dog who’s a butcher, a butcher for dogs, or a butcherer of dogs? You’ll have to watch the show to find out.

East’s demeanour fits the intimate setting of the yurt nestled next to the Potterrow Underpass very well; he’s so likeable and self-effacing that we can’t help but be drawn into his act (even the gross parts). His tech, Ben Goldsmith, who has his own show, does an excellent job creating the ambiance in the tent – particularly impressive considering that the venue is not particularly soundproofed, and we can vaguely hear the dulcet tones of Mr Cardboard drifting over from the Big Yurt next door on occasion.

Like most soups, some parts are less satisfying than others (the author is aware that, much like brisket that’s been in the slow cooker for too long, this simile is starting to fall apart). In particular, the sections when the audience has to suggest characters for East to perform tend to be a little underwhelming; while his improvisation is impressive, our own imaginations simply pale in comparison to his original characters.

Despite these snags in the show’s pacing, East’s talent is undeniable: it’s obvious we’ve only seen a tiny fraction of the weird characters he has bubbling up in his mind. If you like clowning and absurdist humour, ‘My Brain is Soup’ will be right up your alley – unnerving and amusing, with just a soupçon of ennui.

‘My Brain is Soup, Your Hands Are the Spoons‘ is at Hoots @ Potterrow – Wee Yurt until Sun 25 Aug 2024 at 13:55