JAMES Acaster opened his touring show, Represent, at the Hyena Lounge Comedy Club last Friday by discussing why people may visit a comedy night.

He defined the reason as being to find out "celebrity gossip". What followed were anecdotes about Chilean miners being chucked out of what they believed to be karaoke bars. While the Copiapó mining accident was five years ago Acaster kept the content fresh by reflecting on the public's obsession with celebrity culture.

Acaster went on to pretend that he previously lived in the eyesore that is Stonebow House. Laughter was the accompaniment to his musings on what York gangs were like: arguing with rival gangs about the most suitable adjective to best describe the beautiful streets of York.

Following this, Acaster began to play in the theme of jury duty that ran throughout the show. He talked fondly of his fellow members of the jury, in particular Hugh, the log flume hypeman, and Acaster improvised well with a member of the audience who claimed he was a hypeman for a log flume - and pedalos as well!

The second half became deeper in its subject matter. These included topics such as the origins of the universe (was it really poppadums?); the conversion of a Christian to an agnostic with a special fondness for Christingle; to the existential crisis brought on by a survey conducted in the waiting room of a dental surgery.

The evening closed nicely with Acaster delicately devouring a lit Christingle.