Words: Rebecca Moore
Image: Charlie Flint

3 stars

Basic Bald B*tch is a one-woman physical theatre show written and performed by Emily Glaze, directed by multiple award winning director Sarah Stacey.

Whilst the start was a little rocky and the relationship between the sound desk and actor a little disjointed, the actor got into the full swing of her performance after revealing a key point at which her reality changed forever, a dark encounter in the corner of her room, and an upcoming court case. This provided context to her alopecia and raised issues around how we deal with the complexity of trauma and the pressures of beauty standards put onto women. 

The set design by Anna Kelsey provided a backdrop made of hanging threads of pink glitter; it was a real highlight and set the tone for a camp, cabaret-style, female-driven show. This was also used effectively to symbolize a key turning point in her journey of losing her hair, and the choice of lighting was again minimal but well used. 

The movement direction and physicality of the actor stood out the most, with a real talent for movement and physical theatre. Emily Glaze shone out in these moments, but the dialogue unfortunately failed to hit with the same impact. The moments of lip syncing were great fun to watch but could’ve been developed further and felt too intermittent. The sound design, whilst original, felt restrictive to the overall pace of the show. 

A brave, vulnerable, and honest performance that definitely deserves an audience. With an original mix of camp, cabaret, and physical theatre, and a great storyline, this show has plenty of potential.

BASIC BALD B*TCH
Jelly Belly, Underbelly Cowgate
15.55
5 – 30 Aug