We have caught Dara O Briain a couple of times in Fringes past but almost always as the compere of a late-night mixed bill – his solo show sells out FAST. In fact the last time we saw his own show live was at the Hammersmith Apollo. So the opportunity to see him in an intimate Pleasance venue honing a work in progress show was too good a chance to miss.

Dara steps out, actually he limped out, to rapturous applause. On this night he has a crutch with him and, in the style that we are all used to seeing on shows like ‘Go 8-Bit’ and ‘Mock the Week’ he regales us with the tale of his operation and his desire for the cane of a gentleman thief but ending up looking like the old boy from ‘UP’ thanks to a cursed rubber stopper.

This is Dara on familiar, frenetic territory… his delivery is fast and chatty with multiple nostalgic references thrown in for good measure and we are having a blast.

But, those references are mere diversions from the show’s beating heart. And, as we switch to that subject, the mood of the room begins to change… But in no way is this a bad thing.

I don’t want to give anything away as this is a ‘long story’ that needs to be told, in full, by Dara himself once he has nailed the material and its delivery to his own satisfaction. All I will say is that it is something very different from this clown, it is personal, it is very honest and it is also beautifully funny.

Once this show is ready I urge you to grab some tickets, it is this clown’s own (or should that be ‘Owen’?) story to tell in his own words and it will be well worth the price of admission.

Clown Stars (-unrated-)

@Pleasance Cabaret Bar, Edinburgh