Josh’s brother tried to fly kick him in the face. Luckily, Brother Thomas was not that agile and just half stumbled down some steps with his foot raised awkwardly. Now Josh takes that experience and proves to be his brother’s brother by delivering a show with all the nervous energy and intent of a stop-animation fly kick that impacts with your face when you aren’t expecting it.

This is 60 minutes of straight stand-up. A rather literal framing device is the only structural aid as Josh plays with share house etiquette, travelling, his chances with girls and an old workmate he really wants you to hate. His awkward approach and slender frame give Josh great licence to surprise with edgy punch lines, and his take on Belgian paedophiles is the funniest of my festival so far.

Josh’s confident performance has all the hallmarks of a seasoned internationally successful comedian, but he’s actually Brisbane born and only 21. The impression may be helped by his admittedly Irish-tinted international accent, but more so it’s because he’s been doing stand up since he was 17, when he won Raw Comedy 2005. Further official esteem was sent his way when he was a finalist in the Edinburgh Comedy Festival’s version of Raw Comedy, and when his first solo-show received MICF’s 2007 Newcomer award. Of course, all these were overshadowed when he scored a regular column in Girlfriend Magazine.

From here Josh could go anywhere, and when talent is rewarded this early that generally means in a few short years he’ll roll with Ben Cousins and drunkenly cheat on a Veronica with Tiger Lily Hutchence, so it’s probably best to see his polished potential now.

Finished reading this article? You might also like:

• PunCast Episode 19 – Josh Thomas
• Josh Earl is XXVII
• Josh Thomas Please Like Me