one4review | On 10, Aug 2025

In a room that need a dehumidifier more than air con, Elle Bert put a room of clammy audients, a majority of whom had been hooked in off the street, immediately at ease and got us on board with the notion of throwing a sex toy round the room like a talking stick. (Please pay attention to the safety briefing). Some audients were repeat customers, which speaks to the enjoyability and the variability of the show.

Elle has created an alphabetical treasure hunt of topics, and those lucky enough to be in possession of the talking stick get to choose one, and so the show is created in dialogue with the audience. It could be awkward, Elle doesn’t let it, and her easy conversational manner means she builds a rapport with and among the audience, a rare feat. Elle seems genuinely interested in people, and isn’t mean with her riffs on replies. This show would have a different vibe in a packed out room: here we had room to move, and it felt like post-partying late night drinks round a campfire.

Though there are some topics that look very enticing (‘dead housemate’) and are thus likely to be chosen regularly, all of the stories we heard (adoption, masks, nicknames, k-hole, yummy mummies) were interesting, well-told, engaging, and, indeed, funny. Each story comes with its own limerick, funny in themselves and a whimsical way to punctuate the show. Not a show for the loud and lairy perhaps, but a warm and friendly way to get to know some strangers.

Reviewed by Laura
22:40 (1 hr)
Just the Tonic at the Caves (Just Out the Box)
Until 24th (not 12th)