An instantly likeable and warm comic, Lacey keeps the audience on her side throughout this hilariously honest no-holds- barred look into her autistic son’s journey through puberty.
‘I’m a G-Ma’, Josephine Lacey tells the cosy audience of The Soho Theatre Upstairs, smilingly. Dressed in a red sequined top and performing stand-up comedy, she certainly isn’t what comes to mind when you think of the word ‘granny’.
Celebrating the birth of her recent grandchild and complaining about her older son being a ‘c*nt’, Lacey immediately sets the tone with her honest and frank speech. A little bit rude and a little bit cheeky but with a strong maternal vibe and a comforting atmosphere, this was a comedy show where the entire audience felt safe and entertained.
With a strong set up, Lacey announced brashly that this will be the story of how she taught her autistic son to wank, shining a light on a topic that is so foolishly entrenched in taboo, and the often-neglected topic of sensory difficulties puberty can cause for those with autism.
Lacey’s amount of love for her son beams out of her throughout this hour, even in moments where she describes cringing behind a shopping trolley after her son tells a woman in the supermarket ‘I like your breasts’, she celebrates the musicality in his voice and appreciation of the woman’s lack of offense, urging the importance of tolerance and understanding.
Armed with an arsenal of hilarious props such as social stories to describe the process of wanking, ridiculously exaggerated bodily fluids and a delightfully large balloon penis, Lacey welcomes the audience into her and her son’s world and how they navigated his puberty, in an atmosphere free of judgement and pumped with laughter.
Engaging with the audience in a playful and kind fashion, Lacey builds a feeling of camaraderie amongst us and upon leaving audience members were heard discussing just how much they wanted to be her friend.
Crafting a space where everything’s okay and everyone’s welcome, Lacey’s comedic hour shows the power comedy has to bring everyone together and leave laughing, doing away with taboos.