one4review | On 24, Aug 2026

This show feels like it isn’t sure if it wants to be theatre or comedy, and is resultantly a slightly uneasy mix of the two. Em dances onto stage with a short silly piece of fun which she labels (dismisses?) as ‘theatre’. It’s the funniest and perhaps riskiest bit of the show, but it’s a style that is merely icebreaker and not the main format. It’s quirky and a bit weird and would be an interesting style to see Em explore.

The show proper is tales from Em’s life and how she has shaped and been shaped into what and where she is now. Em is a good and engaging performer and she tells her stories well, with some gentle audience interaction that works well to keep us on our toes and engaged. There’s a narrative running through the whole thing, and some lovely reveals at the end.

But the usual rhythms of stand-up comedy tale-telling are disrupted by elements of theatre, and the theatre is distracted by the comedy. Some of the cause and effect is lost in the telling, as if we’re hearing the resolution having missed the set-up (I’m really glad Em found a gang, but I’m a bit narratively lost as to why this seems such a big deal). There’s a lot to like about this show, not least Em herself, and this is by no means a wasted or boring hour. But it does feel like there’s places for it to go before it realises its full potential.

Reveiwed by Laura
C Alto
Until 23rd