Grace Mulvey was awarded the inaugural BBC Galton & Simpson Bursary for comedy writing in 2020, so there is certainly a level of expectation for this debut show. And she doesn’t disappoint. This is a sharply penned comedy hour to be proud of. The gags are well crafted and full of rich turns of phrase, from her fungal/not fungal nail infection and living with cautious lesbians to London burglaries and her dad’s unusual choice of dance location. Her delivery is breezily camp and not exactly hindered by the musicality of that Dublin accent nor the speed of her speech. 

Mulvey tells how she moved to London from Ireland because she felt she deserved some good in her life. Needless to say, it wasn’t quite what she expected; for a start, everyone ignores a woman crying in public. Mulvey eventually discloses why she felt she deserved a fresh start though speeds through it, signposting it as ‘the sad bit’; it’s nevertheless heartfelt. It also suggests there’s a whole future show in there, perhaps next year’s sophomore offering. In the meantime, this is a highly promising introduction to Mulvey’s comedic talents of which, it seems, there are plenty. 

Grace Mulvey: Tall Baby, Assembly Roxy, until 25 August, 7.05pm; main picture: Ruth Mejber Ruthless