‘Come and see me and my amazing self!’ is how Sikisa modestly pitches her new stand-up show. Yet ‘amazing’ is probably the right word for what she does. Returning to her old stomping ground at Monkey Barrel, Sikisa has mastered the kind of innovative career path pioneered by Jennifer Beals in Flashdance. But rather than juggling jobs as a welder and a dancer, Sikisa works hard for her money as an immigration lawyer by day, and a comedian by night.

‘I think I’m unique, the only immigration lawyer and comedian,’ she says. ‘I try and keep my two main jobs separate, but there are times when clients recognise me, and I have to say “yes, that was me on TV, and yes, I was talking about dicks; let’s all just move on.” There can be real humour in my job, things that my clients come out with, and I’ll be “did that just come out of your mouth? We’re here to talk about an immigration matter and you’re trying to set me up with your son?”’

Sikisa’s new performance is called Serving Justice, and she feels she’s changed since her previous trips to the Fringe. ‘Yeah, I’ve become slightly bitter about my life. I feel like I work really hard, and like most millennials I’ve been told that if you work really hard you’ll be able to get your flat, your family, your relationship, whatever you desire... but I’ve worked hard on several jobs for 20 years now and I’m still kinda stuck in the same place I was before.’

Insisting that she doesn’t like coming across as bitter, Sikisa still wants us to know that she’s properly fed up. ‘I have quite an intense job, one that’s never going to be out of the news, and while I don’t like to talk about educating people because it sounds like I’m saying people are dumb, I do want to give audiences a better understanding of what asylum seekers and immigrants go through. There’s a lot of stereotypes still going around because of what people see on the news, so I want to explain why these people do what they do and relate it to where I am with my own life. So my show is very much based on my own anxieties.’

Sikisa will be heading north soon, ready to savour the soothing calm and healing atmosphere that awaits all comics at the Fringe. ‘I stay in this lovely flat in Princes Street; it’s on the eighth floor, so my thighs are sexy by the end of the run. But it’s not always great coming home at three in the morning. I really love being part of other shows as well, like Stamptown or Comedians’ DJ Battles. The Monkey Barrel venue is ideal for me as it’s very much like a club experience; I’m a storyteller but also a club comedienne. Monkey Barrel are the coolest people and also they have a good financial structure for performers: I’m sure they won’t mind me saying that.’

So, Sikisa loves her venue and insists she is fine to be put at the mercy of reviewers. But before signing off, she wants to set one record straight. ‘I know I’m known as the hardest-working comedian, but the truth is, I really don’t want to be. There’s too many people who don’t have the support they need to stay in this country, so I just can’t give that part-time job up. I’d rather not be known for having several jobs; I’d much rather be known as the laziest comic on the circuit!’

Sikisa: Serving Justice, Monkey Barrel Tron, 30 July–24 August, 5.50pm.