Ben Brailsford – My Fortnum and Mason Hell

Ben Brailsford is not a standup comedian. He hasn't played the Fringe before. He has certainly never done "the circuit" which, we're told, is the making of any young comic. In fact, he is a professional bassoonist. Perhaps because of this, but most definitely not in spite of it, this is a throroughly unusual and highly enjoyable show.

It's not, to be fair, a laugh riot. But then again, this is less standup comedy than storytelling – albeit faintly conversational and sweetly amusing storytelling. Ostensibly, My Fortnum and Mason Hell tells the tale of Ben Brailsford's arrest, on 26 March 2011, as part of the peaceful UK Uncut protest in the luxury department store. It's a narrative full of indignant ire at the unfairness of it all – but the anger is shot through with the gawkiness of, well, a professional bassoonist. As a result, this is a thoroughly nerdy show. Not nerdy in a cool sense – just plain nerdy. Nerdy enough that lines like "oooh, that's classic bassoon" go down swimmingly. It's perhaps not for everyone, but serves as an offbeat and thoroughly charming way of doing what is purportedly political comedy.

But despite his gawky affectations, this isn't the naïve skip through the political park that it appears to be. To give away this show's fantastic twist would be a real crime against what is, in fact, a carefully choreographed performance. Sure, this lacks the spontaneity of standup but, if anything, it's the originality of Brailsford's style that's his real strength.