The image of a stand-up comedian as a swaggering smooth talker full of confidence and ready to put down hecklers is definitely not one Lauren Pattison adheres to.
She prefaces her show with the disclaimer that there would be no audience interaction, no put-downs, and definitely no eye contact with the crowd at any time. See, Lauren isn’t like other comedians: she’s anxious and not afraid to admit it.
Her anxiety seems to manifest itself in her delivery style, which is a frenetic Geordie stream of jokes, stories, and callbacks. Her chosen topic, finding bravery after turning 30, further presents her as an underdog to empathise with and root for.
She is very endearing and moves easily through her material. Obviously very experienced, her laughs are never forced but come regularly and naturally. What struck me was how her set highlighted the female experience. Her perspective as a young woman earnestly trying her best is one I know many will relate to. Her wins become are wins as she discusses challenging herself to grow in confidence and learn to assert herself.
It must be mentioned that Pattison’s set, filled with small anecdotes about her beloved friend ‘Shirley’, leads to a final portion being dedicated to celebrating Shirley’s recovery from alcoholism. Her love and compassion for her friend is clear and the heart of the show. The performance becomes not only Lauren’s, but a dual narrative of both women supporting each other through their unique trials.
All in all, Pattison’s hour is a great watch and one I really resonated with. Big Girl Pants is perfect for anyone, but particularly for younger women who might also be approaching the big 30, so wrangle a few mates and head down to see her.
Lauren Pattinson: Big Girl Pants. 12.30 Monkey Barrel, until August 25
Tickets are available at https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/lauren-pattison-big-girl-pants.
Latharna Imlah
