Never one to stick to traditional stand-up, Stuart Laws pushes himself again with Stuart Laws Is Stuck, a play-within-a-stand-up-set about a murder-mystery on an island full of puffins. Switching (not exactly seamlessly, but that’s part of the fun) between Fringe Set and Puffin Island, ably supported by Kate Hammer on strong puffiny form (she plays them all), Laws takes us through the suspects and mystery surrounding the death of puffin 1004. 

It’s true that the play element has more than a few plot-holes and there are points when we start to wonder exactly where it’s going; the high-concept absurdity is sometimes hard to follow. This is highlighted by the more straightforward stand-up sections, because Laws really does know how to land a joke; the call-backs and layers of meaning are masterful, the belly laughs frequent and honest. He’s also good on his toes: when the lighting desk goes on the fritz (which seems to be a genuine accident, though nothing would surprise us by this point) neither he, Hammer or the front row bat an eyelid. Lovely stuff. 

Of course, the puffin bits aren’t really about puffins at all; to say more would spoil an ending that’s both moving and meaningful. So, like birds of a feather that flock together, hang in there: it’s all heading towards a resolution that’s full of intricate details and pathos. This show is far from perfect, but it is both funny and intriguing. If this is Laws’ future direction, then more puffin-power to him. 

Stuart Laws Is Stuck, Monkey Barrel Tron, until 24 August, 3pm; main picture: Bryan Berlin.