Harriet Dyer is totally bonkers and what a delight that she is here: the world really needs more Harriet Dyers. Especially when she delivers such well-written and crafted work with articulate storytelling magic. The show is a wonderful insight into Harriet’s life growing up in Cornwall with the obligatory cross border international day trip to Union Street in Plymouth and the unavoidable dress code thrown in! She explores the magic of growing up, and yet also the realisation that a friendship group is not a friendship group, just people thrown together in the boiling pot of life. I do feel that Dyer has more to explore here, though. The underlying humour and tragedy could be further mined for the real gold that lies in Harriet’s Cornish hills.

Gilded Balloon Patter House, until 26 Aug.
tw rating 3/5 | [Graeme Blackmore]