New Zealand-born comedian Sarah Bradley brings her part-TED-talk, part-autobiographical, well-received Edinburgh Fringe show to Glasgow.

Before the main event, we are treated to the stylings of another Glasgow act, Ifrah Qureshi, who delivers a short set dealing with life as a Scottish Muslim through a tartan kaleidoscope, family life and slapping down racial stereotypes at kitchen parties. What is apparent is the strong writing and a cutting political edge, rarely seen these days and certainly not in someone so young. If she continues on this trajectory, she’s definitely going to find her audience sooner rather than later. One to watch.

Bradley’s turn now: she enters low-key, clicker in hand. The show is simple — if you’re not one of the girlie girls, what is it in your DNA that makes you the other? Being born and raised in New Zealand, we’re taken through the highs and lows of millennial nerdom: finding individuality, comparisons to strong female leaders (good and bad), pop-culture references like Lord of the Rings, Hilary Duff’s clothing choices, Star Wars, and boy bands — all of which gravitate in constructing who she is now.

As good as that is, 20 minutes in she moves up a gear. The Taylor Swift fandom broken down scientifically is an absolute joy — from casual watcher to obsessive fan, gig by gig, album by album — like a comedic Hannah Fry.

The balance is spot on, a well-oiled machine with plenty of laughs both during and between slides, and entirely relatable: discussing hilarious weaknesses, nerd crushes (some obvious, some thought-provoking), the joys of parents’ record collections, and another great turn on how spicy romance books — often considered a lesser art form — should be celebrated by all. By the end, millennials will see a similar glittery soul; parents may just understand their kids a bit more.

The secret sauce of why Bradley’s hour succeeded is she’s sharp, funny, likeable, and not only an everywoman; she’s everybody. She also sidesteps the usual comedy traps of this type of show with well-researched material and with a licence to entertain, running her PowerPoint PPT like James Bond with a PPK

All considered its great hour with someone who, on this showing, has found her groove with no skips or crackle and is moving up a peg on the comedy ladder.

  ****

Reviewed by Steve H