Edinburgh Festival: Mark Watson, Pleasance Courtyard - comedy review

Following Robin Williams’s tragic death Mark Watson’s show suddenly has greater resonance. In Flaws, the Bristolian comedian charts his own mental health issues over the past year. It is a funny, surprising and ultimately positive piece that finds light in a very dark place.

Watson cites typical everyday irritants — ubiquitous Keep Calm and Carry On posters, call centres — but there must have been something else to have prompted this amiable nerd to need a bottle of wine before he could go on stage every night. There were clearly deeper anxieties at play here.

Despite the serious subject the nervously energetic comic can still find the humorous side. He explains, for instance, that he knew he had a problem when he awoke to realise he had drunkenly donated £180 to a bird charity via multiple texts overnight. He also started insulting his toaster. Not rock ’n’ debauchery but not normal either.

Fortunately therapy seems to have steadied the ship but only after a meltdown at a film premiere vividly recreated onstage involving balloons, a children’s tent and audience members shouting in his ear.

Let’s hope anybody in a similar situation follows Watson’s lead and seeks help.

Until August 24 (0131 226 0000, edfringe.com).