Absolutely no subject is off-limits in Anna Akana’s new show. It starts dark and does, indeed, get darker. But it’s bloody funny too, testament to Akana’s stand-up chops: all the more remarkable when we learn she’s been off the stage for six years after a series of stalking incidents. Still, it’s all grist to her comedy mill: with 2.8 million YouTube subscribers, there’s not much she won’t monetise in a life she describes as OnlyFans for trauma. 

Family features heavily in the opening half: Asian culture, her dad’s stint at the Ukrainian war and her mum’s food pop in and out. Her puckish energy and knowing grin build rapport; not every joke lands perfectly on a night with a Scottish-heavy audience, but that’s OK as her warmth and charm brings us with her. What she’s really doing though is building trust for a blistering, heartbreaking second half that explores and embraces the darkness, discussing her sister’s suicide, its immediate aftermath and the impact it has had on her life. 

No doubt, this is tough stuff to hear (and indeed to perform), but Akana creates enough safety to allow us to laugh at a journey that is both shattering and funny: her ultimate hope being that together, we can laugh the darkness away. Akana is a remarkable comedian and a remarkable human, with a vital message about mental health, resilience and, above all, love. Bring tissues and catch her while you can: this one is a star in the making. 

Anna Akana: It Gets Darker, Pleasance Courtyard, until 24 August, 5.30pm.