There’s an unassuming air to Eric Rushton’s delivery. He’s not quite deadpan, but he is subdued enough to knock-off grade-A punchlines with a shrug, basking in a superlative gag rate to conceal the dark heart of his story. Dealing with his declining mental health and inability to maintain romantic relationships, and the near-impossible chance of accessing mental-health services without waiting for months on end, this would be a troubling trauma narrative if this Manchester comedian didn’t ply his crowd with wordplay. 

That there’s a buoyancy in the air throughout is testament to Rushton’s deft balance between serious storytelling and shrewd one-liners, combining seemingly disparate material to create a portrait of himself that’s deeply flawed while completely likeable. His sonorous flow of merciless self-deprecation remains an anchor that negotiates male mental health without descending into cliché, but the one-liners are the star here. Plenty of them will stick in the memory. 

Eric Rushton: Innkeeper, Monkey Barrel Hive, until 24 August, 3.20pm; main picture: Matt Stronge.