"This is terrifying for everyone, I know," announced Nina Conti to the packed-to-capacity Assembly Hall in Worthing.

The audience obviously knew that by simply being there they were at risk of being hauled on stage and having a fake mouth strapped to their head, but it didn't appear to have been much of a hindrance.

After reassurances that it was, in fact, Conti who should be terrified if her improvisation failed to hit the right chord, there was a collective relaxation of the audiences' shoulders. If only slight.

Conti's stunningly talented ventriloquism, quick wit and huge stage presence made for a cheek-achingly funny evening.

The most incredible part was seeing how audience members desperately tried to communicate when their mouths were covered.

It caused an endless string of problems – what to do with your hands. How to answer the questions as Conti put her own words in your mouth. Just generally, what to do.

Cue theatre stage staff developing uncharacteristic vertigo, a presentation on community safety and four grown adults wiggling their bums to the audience.

And the attachable mouths were the perfect antidote to shut up the rowdy audience member who’d had one too many bottles of rosé before the show.

A top class evening.

Four stars