one4review | On 03, Aug 2025

There’s a nice layered, non-linear structure to this show. Becky tells us things, and they seem perfectly reasonable, but a story’s in the framing. So things come back up again, and from a slightly different perspective, and we understand the choices that have been made both in the telling and in the story. It’s a practical praxis of the premise of the show: choosing when and how much weirdness to reveal.

It’s not Ms Umbers’ only approach to exploring her theme: we get critiques of practical examples (hello man near the blackberries), personal anecdotes, and real world archetypes (train people and horse girls). None of this is belaboured, and it’s only on reflection, and after you’ve stopped laughing, that analysis reveals this delightful approach. Ms Umbers sets a warm and friendly atmosphere, even when she’s dealing with the rude people who think they can keep talking, and the show is devoid of any judgement for the various flavours of weird.

Ms Umbers herself identifies as a bit weird, for reasons immediately apparent and comprehensively addressed, in what seems to be a characteristically pragmatic and consistently funny manner. This show is both a lovely introduction to the off-beat side of comedy, and a worthy watch for its own sake.

Reviewed by Laura
20:40 (1hr)
Assembly Roxy
Until 24th (not 11th)