Ahir Shah

Ahir Shah wants to believe in a future where democracy flourishes, technology liberates us from work, and we all get to rub our bellies in satisfaction at a job well done. However, he’s also feeling powerless to enact change, alienated from his fellow lefties and increasingly anxious about the state of the world after getting caught up in the Paris attacks. He’s got a lot of concerns; fortunately, they’re super funny.

Combining questing polemic with hella sweet gags, Machines is a stand-up show about the uses and dangers of utopianism in a complex, fractured world. It contains an absolutely cracking joke about lizards.

Shah’s previous show, Distant, was originally performed to popular and critical acclaim at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe, and subsequently toured around the UK, Paris and Australia. He’s also done telly and radio if stuff like that sways your vote.