Part play, part TED Talk, this engaging solo show by Andrea Coleman explores the profound impact of three men – John Hughes, John Mayer and Jon Bon Jovi – on her life. Whether you ascribe their significance to some higher power, as Coleman does, or to the way we find meaning through art, there’s no denying the power of art to influence and inspire. Roger Ebert famously called cinema a machine that generates empathy, and this story is bold proof of that. Andrea Coleman knows how strange it is that she, a black woman, felt seen despite the overwhelming whiteness of John Hughes’ cinematic protagonists. And yet she did feel seen. Art transcends boundaries, foregrounding our shared humanity.

Zoo Playground, until 24 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Andy Leask]