Words: Alex Grunberg
Image: Michelle Huggleston

3 Stars

Bella Humphries takes us on an expansive comedic journey covering Wales, exes, dogs, healthcare and more. She plays against a sweet appearance with a cheeky persona and biting self-deprecation, sprinkled with a sometimes twisted sense of humour. After bounding onto the stage, her high energy is sustained throughout the show. With quick transitions, her set demands you follow the track of her bursts of thought. It can be a challenging feat. The jumps and turns all surprisingly lead to an important conversation about PMDD. She shifts into a discussion on the taboo of talking about women’s health issues. How easily symptoms and suffering are dismissed. Humphries speaks candidly about her experiences with PMDD, incorporating new revelations about how critics and audiences have reacted to this focus since she began her run at the Fringe. 

Who hasn’t been given unwanted, and frankly dangerous, health advice from people who think they know our bodies better than us?

Carried through familiar jokes tying together looping threads of disparate and personal subject matter is a relatable frustration for anyone who has had their physical or mental health dismissed. The core of Humphries’ routine is an issue that is far more widespread than people realize. One that many are reluctant to hear. It is commendable that Humphries has used her platform to shine a light on a condition that has been relegated to the shadows. 

Bella Humphries: Square Peg
Just the Tonic at the Mash House, Just The Bottle Room
18:10
Aug 20-25