Holding her mic in both hands, tripping over her words a bit, Alex Stringer seems nervous when she comes onstage. It’s no wonder when the topic of her stand-up show, Happy Hour, is such a personal one, focusing on her struggles with alcoholism and a journey towards sobriety. She warms up quickly, though, finding an in through crowd work. The opposite of addiction is connection, according to Stringer, and she certainly does a thorough job of connecting with her audience. By the end of the show, we’ve heard not just Stringer’s anecdotes, but also some riotously funny embarrassing stories from audience members. It’s a brilliant environment to be in.

The topic is dark and Stringer doesn’t hold back from the really harrowing stuff, but Happy Hour is proof that anything can be funny if done right. With her thick Scouse accent and cheeky, sarcastic humour, Stringer pokes fun at British drinking culture, her time in rehab, and that time she threw up in the back of a cab. There’s the occasional patch where a few more jokes would be welcome, but Happy Hour manages to strike a good balance between funny and sincere. 

Alex Stringer: Happy Hour, Pleasance Courtyard, until 24 August, 6pm; main picture: Rebecca Need-Menear.