Bella Hull review: An exceedingly funny and intelligent comedy voice
Edinburgh Fringe
〰️
Edinburgh Fringe 〰️
Image: The Other Richard
by Zoe Paskett
Finally, a comedian talking about glob culture. Representation for people who like their food best in big, round lumps! As a kid, I used to like to take handfuls of white bread and crush it in my hand into a solid ball and eat it like an apple – it’s not exactly the same thing as a Bella Hull’s food globs, but it’s in the same family, shape-wise.
There’s plenty else in Piggie that will ring true to many. A perceptive comedian with a deceptively light tone, her genial style compliments the nature of the conversation around food and body image. Such issues are a minefield for teenage girls and former teenage girls, but we make light of it because otherwise we’d have to properly deal with the depth of that damage. So let’s just not do that!?
Bella treats us to an exceedingly funny and charming hour. We learn about her unlikely childhood friendship with the carpenter making over her kitchen, and her unlikely current friendship with her 89-year-old Jehovah’s Witness neighbour, Henry, relying on both of them to meet her basic needs. The former fed her multipacks of crisps, and the latter prays every night so she can get to sleep listening to him through the wall. She marries the influence of these two men on her life in a wonderfully surprising way.
She has a wicked turn of phrase, always delivered with a smile despite how awful the story may be, including one particular boyfriend with a lot of opinions about ethical porn. She knows what to reveal and what to hold back.
Piggie is a particularly interesting show to be experiencing now, as we circle back around to the 00s aesthetic and with it, many of the body image expectations that plagued young women as we were coming of age. Bella is an intelligent comedy voice with a lot to say on the matter, in a way that leaves you feeling both cheery and satisfied.
Bella Hull: Piggie is at Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker Three) at 21:45. Tickets here
“Her conversational and lively storytelling style as she tells us about her life knocks up against perceptive envelope-pushing political material. The combination of the two is potent – she holds nothing back”
“Duo Chuck’n’Jeck’s Fringe debut 123movies.com is a whirlwind of sketches tied together under the umbrella of the most nonsensical and most fun awards ceremony you’ve ever watched”
“This is the sort of show that I long for at the Fringe: something queer and weird and extravagant that has an audience hooting and hollering and going out into the night feeling like they’ve just experienced something rare.”
“An absolute hoot. Hudson characterises this fading shine of light entertainment celebrity with aplomb, his frantic desperation to cling onto relevance butting up against the temptations and modernisations of a world that he is ill-equipped to deal with. “
“The social realm is a tricky beast, filled with grey areas and traps that can catch anyone out if they are unprepared. Luckily, Paulette has devised a code of etiquette for handling every social situation you might come up against.”
“This is one of those totally unique late night Fringe shows that will see you leave wondering, did that just happen? Did I and a whole bunker of people just spank each other silly on command? The answer is yes. Willingly, in fact.”
“Character comedian Han Whyte’s drag persona welcomes us to the launch of his new book and a relaunch of his previous works now adapted to be more feminist – at least in his eyes.”
“A show that unpacks this odd existence with equal measures of absurdity and tenderness, emphatically queer, both extremely funny and bittersweet.”
“God’s Favourite is an intense and inspired hour, bound by a combination of zippy writing and a faith in the show’s journey, which the audience shares in wholeheartedly.”
“This debut clown show is more than skin deep, as Maya mines her former life as a telenovela actress to investigate the pressures of remaining youthful, hyper-feminine and emotionally palatable. “
“Sexy baby, harangued ex-wife to a deadbeat genius, male growth plot device… How far have we come really?”
“Her characters provide a showcase for her wide-ranging comedic abilities and allow plenty of space to play”
“The immediate standing ovation that met Mothman’s curtain call came as no surprise. This is the type of show you’ll leave feeling like you need to see it again.”
“She’s dynamic and natural on stage, a simultaneously high-powered and relaxed stand-up.”
Getting to see Cooking With Kathryn is the perfect example of a welcome Fringe surprise – someone new to me and the Fringe, who has created something that fully reflects its anarchic, messy spirit. An absolute riot.
Gross in some places, soft in others, raucously fun all the way through. It’s a clown show that fully celebrates the joy of playing around. At every opportunity, Su takes the wilder option and runs with it.
Like the skirt suit she’s in search of, Baby Doomer is woven from honeyed threads. She wears both wonderfully. Can you plausibly call someone one of the greats this early in their career?
Marjolein’s perspective is a gift and Lein is another hypnotic, lyrical piece of work, and as funny as ever. Even if we haven’t all watched nuns trampolining in Amsterdam, being lost is a universal feeling.
I love all of it. Ayoade Bamgboye has the freshness of a new comedian performing without rules or restrictions. You truly have no idea what she might do next, and she makes it appear like she doesn’t either. It’s thrilling.
There are few people more naturally suited to the job at hand. Molly McGuinness’s debut Slob flows out of her with seemingly effortless dexterity.
I’ve been hearing rumblings of Ayo’s talent for a while and it’s immediately obvious why, both to me and this sold out crowd. His ease on stage, his delightful, sunny disposition and winning earnestness all combine to endear you to him straight away.
