This piece originally appeared in The Demon newspaper. Please remember that I was 18 and that it was 2012.

Usually the idea of "laughing and learning" is not an attractive one. It's normally associated with socially inept secondary school teachers who think they’re hilarious. However, at Robin Ince's Happiness Through Science show, which I saw at The Crumblin’ Cookie on the twenty fifth of November, I both laughed and learned and, although Robin could pass for a secondary school teacher, the Infinite Monkey Cage co-presenter gave an excellent performance. The rationalist stand up provides an informative and comical alternative to today’s over saturated mainstream observational comedy scene. From Feynman to Einstein to Dawkins and Darwin, this hilarious voyage through scientific discovery was an atheistic tour de force fuelled by an infectious passion and wit. Despite battling against the sound of church bells throughout the show, he left the audience with an impression of his wonder and amazement at science whilst also amusing us with his, ironically, righteous anger at the irrational and ill informed.

As the name of his show may suggest, Robin draws a fairly niche audience. It’s unusual for a comedian to start a gig with the words “So, how many scientists have we got in?” and even more unusual for there to be five or six hands followed by the heckle “How do you define a scientist?”. However, just because it’s a niche audience it isn’t in any way exclusive, Robin constantly reminds the audience that he himself is an arts graduate who takes an interest in science. He’s self taught and in no way arrogant about his knowledge, he just genuinely wants to inspire the audience to take a similar interest. Having said that though, you do need at least a basic understanding of Schrodinger’s cat to understand one of the best jokes of the show, and there was one point when most of the audience looked baffled but the physicist on the front row was doubled over with laughter.

The Crumblin' Cookie is an intimate venue with friendly staff and a fantastic atmosphere. In contrast to the stadiums some now associate with the comedy scene, it creates a real connection between performer and audience without being claustrophobic. It’s a cosy live venue I urge you to visit. If you want to find out more about Robin Ince then I suggest you download his podcast Utter Shambles which he presents with Josie Long and to listen to The Infinite Monkey Cage on Radio 4, which Robin co-hosts with Professor Brian Cox.