Pierre Novellie @ Pleasance Courtyard

Pierre Novellie Is Cool Peter is the latest show from a comic with a lot to reflect on. Novellie, a South African who moved to the Isle of Man at the age of seven, positions himself as an outsider, a position that he’s put himself in (whether consciously or unconsciously) throughout his life. He fully embraces the unique position and delivers a blistering hour of outsider observational comedy that is packed with brilliantly nerdy contemplations.

He finds himself no longer a starry-eyed youngster, slowly acclimatising to London and the grind that is city life.There is still a spring in his performing step even as he relays some of the more disturbing experiences the capital has provided. He’s happy to conjure up for us the same images that haunt his dreams at night – swarms of flies covering his kitchen, dead rats in the walls and graveyards of chicken bones piling up the streets. The difference between Novellie’s performance and a gothic fairytale is the bright grin, misplaced pride and lovable swagger that he brings to the proceedings. His exceptional conversational delivery makes for compelling stand-up and is the backbone for this exciting young comedian’s act.

He has a towering stage presence especially when put into the converted container he is performing in for the month. His confidence is unwavering, even as he drives into his more niche material, with references to Warhammer and video games. Funny, and handled well enough not to alienate uninitiated audience members. His routine about the stereotyping of white South Africans as racist provides a thicker substance to the hour and caps off the show in style.