‘A thought-provoking, carthatic watch’
Thanyia sets up the show by highlighting the importance of the Fringe festival for a stand-up comedian. Likening it to the Olympics she explains the pressure both financially and reputationally to pull off a podium worthy show. The opening of the show is light and fun and her bold, energetic character shines through.
She wryly confesses that when it was finally her turn to go to Edinburgh and take the stage she felt confident, even cocky and lucky to have the support of producers and a production team behind her. But the universe had other plans.
In this one-woman show were story telling blends with laughter, Thanyia shares about the horrific, unexpected turn of her first Fringe and how she reacted to having a miscarriage the day she was due to make her Fringe debut. Thanyia isn’t afraid to face this somewhat taboo topic but tackles her story head on the way she knows best, with laughter.
Her experience reflects that of many women who have hidden their grief and pain both physical and emotional to uphold their professionalism and maintain a certain persona for fear that their ‘woman’s issues’ will not be understood. Perhaps, through this show she will offer a space to discuss this further.
But in her darkest moments, she managed to find relief through the unusual characters found in the streets of Edinburgh. There was the wizard who lead tourists around the cobbled lanes and the familiar face of a repeat taxi driver who became a constant as Moore was travelling to and from hospital on discovering she had an ectopic pregnancy.
Thanyia praises the supportive, cheery experience she had from the NHS in Scotland and compared its differences to the bored, disillusioned healthcare she was used to in London, looking for comic relief and silver linings at every turn.
This story is heart breaking and yet Moore sprinkle moments of light relief and joy throughout, sharing that the comedians curse meant that even as this was happening, she was gathering material for her next show.
The show runs until 24th August at 17:40 in the Pleasance Courtyard. Tickets here: https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/thanyia-moore-august