Nick Cody arrives for his first ever Fringe with a confidence that suggests he’s been performing here for the last ten years. ‘Beard Game Strong’ only actually talks about beards once, when Cody mentions his hero – Mark Donaldson, a recipient of a Victoria Cross. Donaldson has a ginger beard too, and Cody uses this mutual feature to compare the two of them in terms of manliness. Beyond this topic, Cody uses several hilarious personal anecdotes to highlight his self-confessed stupidity and his embarrassments over the years. From an hilarious incident with a toilet hose in Thailand, to the introduction of Cody’s girlfriend to his “loose unit” parents, this Aussie thrills us with his intrepid style of performance.

Assembly George Square Studios, until Aug 30.
tw rating 5/5 | [Kieran Scott]