Ends is as elegant and nuanced as audiences have come to expect from Ahir Shah. An address on the state of Britain today, told through the story of his grandfather who travelled to England to provide for his family back home in India, not long after Enoch Powell delivered his infamous ‘rivers of blood’ speech. Shah asserts that it’s simultaneously possible to hate the Tories and be proud of the progress that’s been made in recent years, reminding the audience that even in 2002, the year that his grandfather died, a non-white Prime Minister seemed inconceivable.

Shah blends profundity with humour better than almost anyone else on the circuit. The ultimate compliment to the impact he’s had on UK comedy in recent years is the significant number of Shah-lite performers around. In a relatively short space of time he’s joined the likes of Stewart Lee and James Acaster in the pantheon of most-imitated comedians. 

But it’s his writing that puts him head and shoulders above his peers. The sections about his grandfather’s struggles to make a life for his family in the UK are truly moving, and there were more than a few tears in the audience when the houselights came up. But the true power of Ends is that the poignant material doesn’t negate his jokes, which are consistently excellent.

In the past Shah has been accused of being a little too clever for his own good, and talking down to his audience, but there’s none of that in this show. His powerful storytelling draws the audience in and Shah feels far more like a trusted friend than a lecturer. You’ll be in awe of Shah’s power as a performer, and you’ll come away with a few fresh perspectives, too. 

Ahir Shah: Ends, Monkey Barrel, until 27 August, 1.25pm.