Edinburgh Fringe: Gavin Lind – ‘A gay man raised in an institutionally racist, sexist, homophobic society’

Did you hear the one about the Australian mining engineer and lobbyist? He's got his first full-length solo show on the Fringe this year. No, not much of a punchline, that, but there are plenty to be found in Gavin Lind's Committed to Mediocrity. Over the course of 50 minutes he muses on how a middle-aged white man, with a killer “dad bod”, who always thought he was special – perhaps that's what growing up in apartheid South Africa does to you – comes to terms with the fact that he is, well, mediocre. Of course, he's nothing of the sort – and there's plenty of material for a gay man raised in an institutionally racist, sexist, homophobic society to draw on.

For one thing, there are the cultural challenges that face a couple emigrating from a familiar yet often hostile culture to one that is alien and similarly challenging. With a heritage like his, it is little surprise that he shows scant respect for political correctness. He's your man if you want to know how many gay years in a straight year. Nor does he fear nudging the arbitrary boundaries of good taste as he considers the perils of a dinner party with the lady who uses self-secreted yeast in her bread.

Much of his material is born and bred in his homelands but it also takes his audience out on the streets of the festival city. And there are those classic comedy staples from witty wordplay to good old outrage all delivered in an “annoying vegetarian accent”. An eclectic experience then, and perhaps not the slickest routine you'll see on this year's Fringe but mediocrity has never been this funny.

Gavin Lind’s ‘Committed to Mediocrity’ is at Venue 145, India Building, Victoria Street every evening from 7.30pm until 29 August, except for 15 August.