David Quirk

We’re accustomed to our Aussie Fringe comics being a bit larger than life and ranting aloud their darker thoughts. David Quirk, then, is somewhat atypical. He’s certainly not afraid to delve around in the murkier regions of existence though – particularly with the routines about necrophilia, incest and suicide – but does so with such a quiet calm that when he raises his voice slightly to force through a point, it’s almost as though he’s bellowing at us.

None of which should be viewed as criticism. Quirk is a refreshing addition to the Edinburgh fold, someone who can take apart any unwanted audience participation with a withering, whispering retort and possesses a beautifully eschewed worldview which he lays before us with often rambling tales and seemingly impotent non sequiturs. Not for nothing is his hour entitled I Don’t Wanna Tell Jokes and after a dry-ice metal-soundtrack intro, he proceeds to wind the gig down from the off, chucking out off-kilter thoughts that you may not always laugh at but won’t stop thinking about.

Assembly Hall, 623 3030, until 29 Aug (not 23), 8pm, £10–£11 (£9–£10).