tue 26/11/2024

Bryony Kimmings/ Shazia Mirza, Soho Theatre | reviews, news & interviews

Bryony Kimmings/ Shazia Mirza, Soho Theatre

Bryony Kimmings/ Shazia Mirza, Soho Theatre

Potentially rich seams of material left unexplored by two comics

Bryony Kimmings: Her act includes a catchy song about words and phrases for the vagina

At first sight there seems to be little to connect these two comics - one a performance artist who spends much of her show in her underwear, the other a self-described 34-year-old virgin - who are touring with their 2010 Edinburgh Fringe shows, except that they are both currently appearing in the same studio space at the Soho Theatre in London. But having been underwhelmed after seeing their shows back to back, I see similarities - my notes contain the common scribblings “weak material” and “overlong anecdotes” - and I'm frustrated by the realisation that both have some cracking gags among the obvious and trite stuff that forms the majority of their acts.

At first sight there seems to be little to connect these two comics - one a performance artist who spends much of her show in her underwear, the other a self-described 34-year-old virgin - who are touring with their 2010 Edinburgh Fringe shows, except that they are both currently appearing in the same studio space at the Soho Theatre in London. But having been underwhelmed after seeing their shows back to back, I see similarities - my notes contain the common scribblings “weak material” and “overlong anecdotes” - and I'm frustrated by the realisation that both have some cracking gags among the obvious and trite stuff that forms the majority of their acts.

‘There’s a catchy song composed entirely of words and phrases for the vagina - “The Road to Grimsby” is a new one on me’

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