For anyone who didn’t catch Krystal Evans’ show last year, she opens with a video featuring a chirpy song recounting her childhood trauma as a burn victim so you can catch up, littering her intro with a slew of punchlines before even arriving onstage. From there, she picks up where she left off, recounting waitressing jobs in hotels for the super-rich, finding love with a Scottish chef, and harbouring a dream to try stand-up comedy (à la A Star Is Born). There’s always a risk of setting yourself up for a fall when discussing your rise to (near) stardom, but Evans has more than earned her bout of self-congratulation.

She’s a pacy storyteller who knows when to pepper an anecdote with sharp gags and when to pull back to give her yarn room to breathe; in particular, there’s a riveting section about dealing with wealthy clientele. When the gags do come, they’re a thick and fast mix of cleverly constructed wordplay, deadpan sarcasm and throwaway asides, weaved expertly into her tightly structured hour of subtle and satisfying call backs. There’s every sign that Evans is on an upward trajectory with her book The Hottest Girl At Burn Camp and her part in Mitchell & Webb’s upcoming sketch show. As this new hour proves, there’s a good reason she’s become a hot property. 

Krystal Evans: A Star Is Burnt, Monkey Barrel, until 24 August, 7.10pm; main picture: Amy Lauffer.