Harden the Fuck Up World

Having scored a hit in his home country with Harden the Fuck Up Australia, Heath Franklin is now addressing a global audience in the guise of Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read, his home country's favourite celebrity murderer.

'It's time to grow a f**kin' moustache,' warns the gangster-turned-motivational speaker at the start of this consistently brilliant session, before having the audience swear an oath of allegiance.

This is character comedy at its finest. Harden the Fuck Up should really be listed under comedy in the Fringe programme, but the title should scare off any timid types seeking insight into the mind of this enigmatic ex-con.

The cuddly former knee-capper rails against such 'soft' innovations as the bluetooth headset and the over-designed football strip, then provides an illustrated run-down of the world's hardest nations. Men in skirts come in for plenty of stick, but thanks to an inspired piece of circular logic the kilted Scot manages to come out on top.

It might not be the most sophisticated brand of comedy on the Fringe, but Franklin has charismatic aggression down to a fine art, and with the assistance of a crude slideshow and an even cruder puppet, he puts on a bloody funny show.