Words: Arianna Moffit

3 Stars

Thanyia Moore’s set centres around what happened during her long-awaited, anticipated debut hour at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2022. It’s a kind of Fringe inception moment, like stepping into a hall of mirrors, which feels a little jarring. The present audience, perhaps wishing for some escapism for the outer chaos of the busy streets of Edinburgh, suddenly finds themselves in a story set in the same location three years prior.

Moore is, without question, a captivating storyteller. Her content is extremely personal, poignant, and absolutely worth sharing, and hearing. She commands the room with authority, shaped by 10+ years of stage time, not to mention her appearances on Mock the Week, Richard Osman’s House of Games, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and plenty more.

She’s also a well seasoned host and MC, and during her set, it’s in these moments of live audience interaction that she shines brightest. Very witty and quick off the mark, Moore’s crowd work produces belly laugh-out-loud moments and it is clear she is relaxed in this set up.

But when the crowd work ends and the scripted set resumes, the laughs grow scarce. The themes are heavy and while honesty is this show’s strength, it doesn’t always translate into humour. Sometimes, the audience are not sure what their reaction should be; a laugh, a shocked gasp, or if they should ask ‘are you ok?’ But let it be said: Thanyia Moore is instantly likeable. There’s no pre-tense, no bullshit, and never a trace of cruelty in her crowd work. She draws you in, makes you feel part of the room, never the butt of the joke.

This isn’t a show to wander into blindly. Check the trigger warnings because some of what she brings up might hit hard. Don’t come expecting a laugh-a-minute hour. Instead, come for a masterclass in authentic storytelling in an important subject. It’s raw and real, and there are moments of laughs and lightness.

Thanyia Moore: August
Upstairs, Pleasance Courtyard
17.40
16-25 Aug