Beth Vyse developed this one-woman show to talk about her experiences with breast cancer. She has a natural ability on stage, lifting the audience up with unexpected silliness before bringing them right back down with an abrupt, sobering point. From the doctor who diagnosed her, to the welcome comic relief that Michael Jackson provides, her characters hold the show together well and allow Vyse to impress. Her storytelling talents are proven by her ability to simultaneously maintain the humour and honesty of the story. Throughout all this Vyse comes across as an incredibly strong woman, not least because she manages to display her vulnerabilities whilst still maintaining a huge stage presence. It seems that cancer can indeed be pretty funny.

Heroes @ The Hive, until 30 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Stephanie Gray]