Ikechukwu Ufomadu @ Pleasance Courtyard

Ikechukwu Ufomadu trained as a Serious Actor. Luckily for us, he realised that he was far too funny to recite Shakespeare – 'who, as we all know by now, was the Shakespeare of his time' – for a living, and decided to turn his chops to stand-up instead. He still recites Shakespeare, specifically all of Hamlet’s Act 3 Scene 1 soliloquy (perfectly), except now it’s on the fly when an audience member asks Ufomadu the question 'to be or not to be?' during the FAQs section of his routine.

Yes, there’s an FAQs section. There’s also counting, and learning the alphabet. There’s no mundanity here, though. Or, if there is, it’s because Ufomadu is endorsing it; he’s presenting it to the audience with such TV-show-host enthusiasm that there’s no option but to see how silly it all is. Does that sound absurd? It is. But Ufomadu is a complete professional. He maintains absolute control – even the occasional corpsing feels somehow planned – and in this professionalism, we trust.

Amusements is as slick as it is utterly bonkers. Each bit (growing in ridiculousness) slips so seamlessly into the next that, before you know it, Ufomadu has drawn you in to his world so successfully that, even if you can’t tell exactly why, you will be doubled over in laughter. Don’t worry though! His world falls well within the four laws of the Geneva Convention. 

The true genius of Ufomadu’s hour, though, is his own genius. The show isn’t built on knee-slapping punchlines, but rather an increasing fear in the audience’s mind that if they don’t get it, then it’s entirely their fault. Ufomadu is certainly in on the joke, so why aren’t you?

Amusements is an excellent debut. There is no emotional hook, no gut-wrenching revelation; just pure, unadulterated goofiness, with some technically brilliant voice and stage work to boot.

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Amusements by Ikechukwu Ufomadu, Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker Two), until 27 Aug (not 16), 5.40pm, £11-12