At a sold-out Tennent’s Bar in Glasgow, Deirdre Robertson premieres her first comedy storytelling show, digging into her adoption in the late ’60s and the long, looping odyssey to find her birth parents—unravelling DNA strands while trying to make sense of where they leads, in a forensic Jessica Fletcher investigation, unraveling the secrets, white lies and piecing together where her biological parents came from, what happened to them, and the surprising connections.

The show is a well-shaped hour that sticks to the golden rule: write what you know. The material is compellingly and Robertson keeps the audience fully invested, sidesteps tartan-tinted sentimentality and has sincerity with elbows in. While not leaning into overcooked theatrics, the visual presentation, particularly the screens, while adding texture is leaned on a touch too heavily, which is a shame when the story in it’s gloriously knotty complexity, is more than capable of standing on its own two feet.

Overall, Robertson is an immediately likeable presence, and most definitely a talent. While it’s a work in progress, like a family tree, it’s not just about the leaves on the branches; it’s about the solid roots and with a show like this that’s often the part that matters most.

***

Reviewed by Steve H

Tennent’s Laughter Lounge