Plenty of stand-up shows at this year’s Fringe have built their premise on vulnerability and emotional turmoil, but few are as finely crafted or likeably delivered as Amy Matthews’ latest hour. Beginning with a squall of noise that sounds like an anxiety attack, I Feel Like I’m Made Of Spiders follows Matthews failing to cope in the aftermath of two devastating break-ups and falling into a dissociative state. She discusses her tough year with a bone-dry and self-deprecating humour, finding light in her depression with tangents about unruly children at weddings, artisan matches in gift shops, and youth culture’s admirable but overbearing attitude to mental health. 

Combining an air of nonchalance with genuine warmth towards her audience, Matthews has the unerring ability to toss off punchlines as though she had plenty to spare, and an intelligent line in callbacks that takes audiences a few beats to catch up with before an inevitable eruption of laughter. Even though this is effectively a blow-by-blow account of one woman’s breakdown, her erudite wordplay injects discussions of therapists and loneliness with the zest of life. Slick without lacking spontaneity, intelligent while appealing to a broad audience, likeable while maintaining a sense of grit, serious in tone without skimping on jokes: Matthews’ relaxed appearance onstage belies an incredible tightrope walker at work. 

Amy Matthews: I Feel Like I’m Made Of Spiders, Monkey Barrel, until 27 August, 3pm.