^{Picture: Jacob Hare}

There’s a delightful skittishness to Josh Jones as he delivers his Fringe debut. The Mancunian comedian energetically paces a stage that’s frankly much too small to contain him. He claims that his agent suggested he clean up his act, but if that’s the case, then lord knows what he was like before. Waste Of Space is full of astonishing revelations from an unpredictable comedian who seems to have a pathological need to share.

Jones attempts to ease the audience into his more shocking routines by laying the groundwork with some material about his perpetual clumsiness and difficulties at school. Every so often he’ll unexpectedly enter an almost psychopathic state for a fraction of a second to express the unvarnished thoughts of his subconscious, and the effect is simultaneously sinister and hilarious. He employs this device with remarkable discipline and it’s a quirk that certainly singles him out from his peers.

Jones never stops to consider the implications of his misadventures, admitting himself that his show is uncomplicated, but this is a solid introduction to an interesting new voice. The thought of one day seeing him ‘unsuppressed’ is particularly intriguing. 

Pleasance Courtyard, until 28 August, 8.30pm.