Tessa Waters’ Fully Sik is a high energy show that mixes improvisation, sketch, clowning and a bit of mime.
Even before entering the venue all the barriers are down, as Tessa herself invites us into the yurt, doing a great job of grabbing passersby and pique their interest. The colourful venue and the sequined jacket and fanny pack are great ways to build the mise en scène and gift the audience with the right frame of mind. The show has no fourth wall and audience participation is essential for its success, which makes the first impression super important and Tessa’s friendliness and ease in improvisation in the first point of contact a great treat.
I give the show very high marks for commitment and prowess in body use and control in a show that is all led by one woman, whose sketches wink at women’s issues, and leap from periods to office work shenanigans and just a bit of all-round silliness, in the good old clowning fashion.
The audience is made to work hard as they are propelled on stage to participate in the sketches and games. Or to join in from the comfort of their seat if they so prefer. I wonder how a different, less open audience would influence the outcome of the show, but with a keen, participative audience, the experience is a fun, communal one, that is a welcome break from passively watching show after show in the festival.
★★★
Tessa Waters: Fully Sik is at Heroes at The SpiegelYurt at 17:00 until 26th August. For tickets and more information click here! Tessa is also playing with the Fringe Wives Club at Glittery Cliterry Assembly Roxy and at Funny Women on the Fringe on the 21st August. For tickets and more information click here and here.
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