In the bizarre realm of Simon Amstell’s existence, a man whose anxieties are like a nest of hornets perpetually buzzing in his psyche, the notion of abstaining from the stage for half a year should be the least of his peculiar worries.

True, on this particular night, he clung to sheets of notes like a security blanket, as he meticulously crafted the scaffolding for his impending spectacle, “Spirit Hole.” In the crucible of this work-in-progress performance, one could detect the flicker of brilliant ideas, their wings yearning for the soaring heights of full realization.

Yet, even in this formative state, Amstell’s communion with the audience remained undisturbed, a realm where this confessional 41-year-old thrives like a desert lizard basking in the merciless sun. His resume, once limited to the confines of television (Popworld, Buzzcocks, Grandma’s House), has since expanded to include the title of film director, with cinematic offerings like “Carnage” and “Benjamin” bearing his unique imprimatur.

Within the tempestuous caverns of his mind, Amstell relentlessly probes the tangled underbrush of his mental health – grappling with the relentless march of time, the mercurial nature of self-worth, the monstrous ego that both plagues and propels him forward, and the elusive path to self-discovery, often paved with the psychedelic bricks of experimentation. These age-old demons found themselves reborn once more on this stage, intermingling with the raw tendrils of his evolving long-term relationship.

This performance, a mere foretaste of the impending tour set to ignite in September, leaves the audience dangling on the precipice of anticipation. It is an appetiser of the enigmatic feast that Simon Amstell promises to serve, a carnival ride through the corridors of his psyche, and for those who revel in the peculiar and surreal, it couldn’t be more tantalising if it tried.

Clown Stars (-unrated-)

@ The Bill Murray, London 

For tour dates, book tickets at simonamstell.com