Comedians often seem like they are one childhood anecdote away from a total breakdown. They can usually hide behind their jokes, but Shrink Wrapped changes the game. 

It’s a brilliant concept where an actual psychologist joins them on stage to analyse their personalities in real time. Hosted by the sharp-witted Robyn Perkins (a London-based American with a knack for crowd work), this is world-class, ad-libbed mastery. 

Three comedians who are masters of thinking on their feet, Robyn, Elaine Fellows, and Xavier Susai, delivered short, hilarious sets. After they performed, the very clever Dr Ruchi Sinha delved into the why behind their jokes, looking at things like childhood trauma, emotional dissonance and the avoidance of certain truths. The innovation here lies in the blend of off-the-cuff stand-up energy with genuine clinical depth. 

Nothing about it is gimmicky - it makes the comedians question the content they deliver and forces the audience to consider the darker reasons behind why we laugh and what we laugh at. The assessment portion of the show isn’t malicious, and there’s a strong sense of care and camaraderie amongst those in the hot seats. The result is a voyeuristic experience that is as intellectually stimulating as it is funny. 

I loved that the 60-minute runtime mirrored the length of a standard therapy session, cleverly keeping the show on the clock. Absolute excellence!