Review by Hilary Wardle

Rude, corrosive and cheerfully appalling, Rhys Nicolson’s bittersweet journey into his past certainly isn’t for the faint hearted. The besuited, acerbic 23-year-old isn’t afraid to talk graphically about sex, 9/11 and abortions. He even risks a (very quick) reference to the Boston bombings. It’s gasp-inducing stuff, but it’s also skilfully done and, for the most part, very funny.

He starts as he means to go on: with a large, projected diagram of a penis. He uses this as a launchpad to talk about his life so far, explaining that, despite the fact things are going well with live-in boyfriend Kieron, he still doesn’t feel happy. He’s got a gnawing void where his feelings should be, so he takes us all on an interactive therapy session in an attempt to find out why he has a heart of coal, not to mention a crippling anxiety disorder.

He delves into his own childhood and we’re treated to several very amusing- and highly disturbing- pictures he drew when he was a kid. There are a few photos of a youthful Rhys too, which don’t need much prompting to generate a laugh, particularly the one where he looks like a haunted ventriloquist’s dummy.

The laughter dies down a bit when he explains that mini-Rhys’s vacant expression is down to bullying rather than mild idiocy, but to avoid any accusations of self-pity he throws in some controversial, waspish jokes about the fact that celebs on Twitter need to toughen up about online bullying and brazen it out. Unfortunately, this feels a bit near the knuckle given the recent epidemic of death and rape threats on the social network largely been aimed at high profile women.

It’s the Australian comic’s first time performing to a UK audience and it shows. Other jokes that don’t travel particularly well include his frequent swipes at ‘bogans’ [somewhere between redneck and chav], which feel out of place, out of date and uncomfortable.

However, Rhys pulls it back at the end and the show goes out with a bang, as well as another dick picture. Will he ever learn how to be happy? Let’s hope not, as his vinegary, Joan Rivers-style cynicism works well and makes for an enjoyable hour of comedy.

Review date: 3 Aug 2013
Reviewed by: Hilary Wardle