Passionate, theatrical, consummate stand-up of the kind you get with a John Hastings’ show gives you a palpable sense of what we’ve been missing these last couple of years. It’s an explosive response to an emotional year (to say the least) for the Canadian comic, who found that death and loss hovered close. In the last 12 months, his best friend passed away, Hastings nearly died himself and he got divorced. He doesn’t need to stand on a chair to loom at the crowd for his passion to be felt; though he does, which is a nice touch regardless.

_{Picture: Mandee Johnson}

A skilled improviser as well as a honed stand-up, Hastings is never afraid to tackle a knotty latecomer, a gift tonight as they were Americans keen to deflect attention away from themselves by claiming Canadian citizenship . . . to a Canadian. It’s an exchange that provides the show with yet further fizz. 

Monkey Barrel Carnivore, until 28 August, 8.15pm.