Frankie McNair's Edinburgh fringe show Huge Ass Mindset marks a striking departure for the Australian comic, previously known for whimsical, absurdist material, as she tackles the subject of childhood sexual abuse. Unlike much trauma-comedy, which typically saves such revelations for late in the set, McNair states her subject matter openly from the start, pairing content warnings with sharp punchlines, and the show has been nominated for best show at the Melbourne comedy festival.

The hour blends personal testimony with McNair's own commentary on how confronting the material is, driven partly by statistics showing one in four Australians experience child sexual abuse, and by a recent real-life encounter with her abuser. The Guardian's review praises her warmth and craft in turning painful experience, including jokes about suicidal ideation, into compelling comedy, though it notes a mid-show detour into character comedy feels out of place. It draws a parallel with Richard Gadd's Edinburgh comedy award win a decade earlier, framing McNair's show as another example of comedy's capacity to find healing in dark material. It runs at Gilded Balloon Teviot until 30 August.