Bring on the drama

'It's definitely a story of love and obsession,' declares Brendon Burns when describing his show, All My Love, All My Rage, which starts its London run tonight. 'And it's a story where I played a crapshoot with my sanity,' he adds.

Followers of Burns's career will know what the feisty Aussie stand-up is famous for foul-mouthed, un-PC humour that's unpredictable and provocative. They'll also know his career took an interesting turn in 2004, when his then-fiancee dumped him for a DJ.

In Burnsy Vs Brendon, his Edinburgh show that year, the latter half saw him drop his usual patter and show his sensitive side, to the surprise of fans and critics.

All My Love, All My Rage is his follow-up (the second of a planned trilogy) and continues in a similar autobiographical vein, with more on his ex-fiancee and more confessions and emotions.

'I like to do bittersweet and I like to pluck on people's heartstrings,' Burns admits. '[Fellow comedian] Paul Provenza once said: "You're the biggest f**king comedy drama queen I've ever met. And I mean that as a compliment." And that's what I do well, I think.'

Seven months after he performed the show at Edinburgh, the lovelorn firecracker, who last summer tried to get 1,000 Glastonbury-goers high on magic mushrooms, has turned a new corner - he's healthier, he seems happier and he's getting his 'grip on reality back'.

Although at a different stage of his life, he's still happy to perform the show. 'I went back over it the other night to relearn it. But rather than look at it from a technical point of view, I sat back and found myself, I must shamefully confess, p**sing myself laughing.'

Tonight and in rep until Apr 8, Soho Theatre And Writers Centre, 21 Dean Street W1, 10pm, £15 adv, £17.50 door. Tel: 0870 429 6883. www.sohotheatre.com Tube: Tottenham Court Road/ Piccadilly Circus

Brendon Burns: So I Suppose This Is Offensive Now