one4review | On 15, Aug 2026

Louise Leigh should be nominated to the award for ‘most, and most continuous, laughter elicited from an audience of under 20 souls’. I think she’d win. Louise explains the premise of the show – in the process establishing a great relationship with the audience – returns dressed as an octopus, has us all in stitches, and keeps the level there for the remainder of the show.

Leigh has achieved the gravitas and confidence that comes with life experience and not being twenty, and the show reflects that. It is silly and ribald, has deep, long considered thought underpinning it, delivers a rant or two, and generally celebrates the fact that women, are, in fact, complete, whole people. The small room works well for Leigh, who makes everyone feel they’re in with the show, and she riffs with and off of the interactions.

We get eight great facts about octopodes, each of which spawns the excellent comedy that makes the heat in the room ignorable. She’s got confidence and presence on stage in spades, and she holds the show in complete control, despite the potential for audience derailment. And in spite of the heat, this is a show that sends its audience away uplifted, fortified and invigorated.

Reviewed by Laura
Slice 5 at Hoots at Hilton (Bread Street)
Until 30th (not Mondays)