Rejoicing in the title of the ‘Brian Cox of comedy’, Rob Auton knows how to draw a crowd, and then takes his opportunity to examine the science of crowd behaviour. Much as the title suggests, Auton’s show is very much about live comedy itself, working his way through a sheaf of papers listing hot tips about how best to handle an audience. 

Auton has a specific, surreal fantasy about being in the audience for his own show, one that is physically impossible to resolve, but instead he skilfully works the room as he bonds his crowd against latecomers, dismantles a joke about a walkie-talkie tour in Torquay, and utilises various other methods of teasing interaction in a consistently amusing way. He rightly mocks his own mic technique, in which the microphone is largely peripheral, but when he does remember to amplify his delivery, it only serve to emphasise his general warmth and wry bonhomie. 

And that feels right for a show that seeks to bring performer and audience closer than most. One ubiquitous theme at the 2022 Fringe is the performers’ innate joy to be back in front of a live audience. When Rob Auton hits his stride, that closeness is tangible. 

Assembly George Square, until 29 August, 2.50pm.