Tom Ballard presents a chaotic hour with flighty diversions into choice subjects such as climate change, mortality and Rupert Murdoch. Despite Ballard’s credible left-leaning credentials (he’s written a book railing against the right), it’s not the media baron’s political control that sets the comedian’s teeth on edge but something much more frivolous and unedifying.

At the start of It Is I, Ballard makes an offbeat claim about his sex life that he repeats for effect, somehow startled at the crowd’s insouciance; this becomes a habit of his, particularly during an extended tirade against the late Queen. As a two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee, he should be experienced enough by now to push a crowd without constantly remarking on his perceived edginess.
Ballard is a substantial but cordial presence, dominating his small stage with intense physicality and a sporadic penchant for eruptive rage; that’s slightly at odds with his crowd work which is unerringly affable, sometimes to a fault. In tonight’s audience, a quiet-spoken heckler constantly interrupts his flow but rather than shut her down he politely acquiesces to her intrusions. Ballard is at his best on one of his characteristic rants, and when he builds momentum (and volume), he’s unstoppable.

Tom Ballard: It Is I, Monkey Barrel, until 27 August, 6.10pm.