Ivor Dembina @ The City Cafe

Here's the thing about Ivor Dembina's new show: it doesn’t exist yet. After
spending five years writing his last show, he decided that he’d ask the people of Edinburgh to help him write the next one. So this is actually more of a workshop than a gig. The format is simple: the audience, about a dozen of us today, huddle around and Ivor sits with us. Then he talks to us. Not banter, actual conversation. Everyone joins in, cracks jokes, he writes down anything that tickles him.

That's all there is to it. He prompts us with a few things, asking us what
superpower we'd most like to have and playing a QI-style gameshow where we have to guess the fillings in his sandwich. The rest is just conversation, which is intimidating at first as everyone tries to think of something interesting to say, but before long we're all groaning with disappointment as the next act bangs on the door to tell us our time is up.

It won't be everyone's cup of tea. It definitely won't suit those looking for an
afternoon pint and a giggle. But for anyone with any kind of interest in comedy, this is an unmissable experience.