In 2014, Ahir Shah has performed a solo run at London’s Soho Theatre and won the award for Best Show at Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival. Using lyrical language, emotional frankness and funny jokes, the alternative comedian presents Texture at the year’s Edinburgh Festival fringe.

“Texture is a stand-up show about moving house, romance, perception, drinking, deer, and other things of that nature. In general, I guess it’s about trying to be an independent adult, and the distance between various aspirations and realities.”

Why did you choose to perform as part of Laughing Horse?

“In the majority of cases I think the paid venues are a fantastic exercise in making tons of money for everyone apart from those who actually create and perform the shows. I’m nowhere near rich enough to engage in that particular brand of wilfully self-destructive behaviour.”

To someone who hasn’t seen you, how would you describe your style of comedy?

“I’d probably describe it quite poorly.”

What is your best experience on stage so far?

“Whenever I get to a venue after a long car journey with other comedians, I’m terrified that I’ll be awful and that the car journey back will consequently be extremely awkward. This has happened before, and every time it doesn’t happen is tied for the best gig of my life.”

If you were curating a stand up show for television, who would be your guests?

“Daniel Kitson, Eddie Pepitone and Maria Bamford, interspersed with short observational bits on zombie life from the reanimated corpses of Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, and Patrice O’Neal.”