Believe

It’s easy to believe why Shane Dundas from the Umbilical Brothers is nervous. We join him on his leap into the unknown of solo stand-up, and the vehicle to ‘nirvana or train wreck’ is a raked lecture theatre with a raised stage: a combo with all the atmosphere of a urinal.

He talks to individual audience members and the teddy bear joining him on stage for comfort and company with toilet humour and politics mulled upon. Chickens, too. A meandering set piece about religious stereotyping has the misfortune of being unfunny, but an accidental round of sound effects is impressive.

But is the anxiety he frequently expresses real or a posture? Managing to alienate some of the audience results with a confusing, sour ending, Believe doesn’t seem to cater for those seeking a belly laugh a minute, and this was light on laughs. It could come good for Dundas if the stars align, his confidence grows and he has a little more faith in his crowd.

Assembly George Square, 623 3030, until 27 Aug (not 13), 10.10pm, £12--£14 (£11--£13).