Katy Brand
It was a shame that Katy Brand performed to a half empty Playhouse last night - I felt she deserved a packed out audience all rolling around in hysterics and was quite surprised to see such a poor turn out. However, this is not to say that those who did make it out last night were not absolutely loving the show because they were hanging on her every word.
Katy Brand is better known for her impressions and sketch show style comedy. Certainly this was the first time I had seen her in a more traditional stand up, storytelling setting, and she was an absolute natural.
The story of how she became a radicalised teenaged Christian, a member of what can only be described as a cult group was truly shocking. So much so, that throughout her performance, while delivering one hilarious anecdote after another she would have to clarify them with “Honestly, this is 100% true, I wish it wasn’t but I promise you these things really did happen!” I found it really interesting to hear her experiences and her insight about such an intense and strange period of her life that essentially molded her throughout her formative years. Brand’s honesty and self deprecation was incredibly endearing and well received by all, not only because of her laugh out loud style but also because some of it was just so beyond cringeworthy that I couldn’t believe you would even want people to know about it!
An incredibly open hearted, eye opening performance that filled the audience with such joy and giddiness it was difficult to contain! In true showbiz style she finished with a song, tambourine in hand, in the style of the Christian rock band *cringe* that she used to be part of - both a surreal and perfect end to a uniquely fascinating show.
8/10
