Eshaan Akbar: Not For Prophet

Underpinning most of Eshaan Akbar's debut hour, Not For Prophet, is a fascinating sense of duality. His ethnicity, his education, his faith, his principles. It's a comedic Godsend in terms of material. For Akbar, the result is an informed comic perspective and a near-universal appeal. 

He's a Briton with Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage; a lower-middle class boy with a private school education; a socialist with a background in banking. And he's got semi-professional Bollywood dance moves to boot! Condensing these sprawling cultural imprints into a unified artistic voice is no mean feat, so what's impressive is the way he's anchored them within a show that feels cohesive and consistent (while keeping the gag-counter ticking over). 

Ultimately he arrives at a centrist compromise, which if you're looking for a bold declaration on how life should be lived may disappoint you. What matters more is the journey he takes in getting there, though, and it's a funny one. His is a well-spoken, benign charm, and he has an endearing tendency to shoot a bemused 'Tim from The Office' glance at the audience as a sort of comedic plea.

It's an accomplished beginning to his Fringe career, covering everything from Muslim Tinder (portmanteau of the year, "Minder", if you're wondering) to his time as a choir-boy. He's won the standup lottery with the diversity of his upbringing, and now he's reaping the rewards.