This is UK-based Raul Kholi’s first time in Adelaide, and he’s wisely chosen to make his Australian debut in a series of informal gigs in local bars. It works in his favour; he’s on hand to welcome the audience as they come in, urges them to get a drink, and basically waits to start the show until we’re all settled and comfy. It feels like he’s welcoming us into his home, which is a nice twist on the new boy in town set-up. It’s also setting things up nicely for a crowd-work heavy set, but here it feels like a conversation. The diverse crowd is happy to share their experience of culture, tradition, religion, ADHD and footy and there’s a real sense of building connection.

His theme is the various ways we find meaning, which leads to anecdotes about football, drinking, smoking and becoming an uncle, most of which has the crowd happily nodding and laughing along with him. He doesn’t have any filters though, and sometimes there’s a change of topic, question or joke that could be better placed or better judged. Timing issues also mean the emotional heart of his story is rushed at the end, but it’s still an interesting performance from a likeable comedian with bags of potential. 

Raul Kohli: A British Hindu's Guide To the Universe, Various venues, until Sunday 23 March, times vary.