one4review | On 12, Aug 2026

At the ripe old age of forty two Davina Bentley reckons she is pretty old and not quite the catch she was ten years ago. She has, however, packed a lot in and had quite a career as a lawyer in the city. When a long term relationship came to an abrupt end, Davina re-evaluated her life and gave up her career in law for stand up comedy. So far, so good, with a number of high profile writing credits to her name and here she is performing her own debut show at The Fringe.

Curiously Davina has an unusual hero and style icon in the unlikely shape of Henry VIII! I think it has something to do with the ruffle neck and he was, we learn, very tall and didn’t really get going with all those wives until he was forty something! The audience participation comes in the form of selecting an audience member to take part in a Tudor quiz. This is quite a departure from the story telling stand up format with topics such as her high achieving sister who resides in Surrey, is also a surgeon and has two beautiful daughters and a rich successful husband.

Davina would rather hang out with her admittedly younger Gen Z girlfriends and is content to be single, Botox free, and living in her London flat with her mother as a landlord. The latter of which is not unusual for a posh rich girl from London.

Davina is such a natural story teller and is completely at ease on stage. This is an accomplished well written and performed hour of comedy. Quite a debut.

****
Reviewed by Margot
Pleasance Courtyard (Cellar)
August 5th to 30th (not 18th)
17:30 (1 hour)