Growing up, reincarnated cats and the demise of the beauty industry - Kemsley covers it all
★★★★☆
Fresh from her run at the Edinburgh Fringe, Harriet Kemsley has arrived in London with her latest show Honeysuckle Island ahead of taking it on a nationwide tour. Inspired by a fantasy and ever so slightly troubling holiday destination from her childhood Kemsley explores becoming a parent, being a modern woman and navigating a year of big decisions.
On stage, Kemsley is effervescent and highly relatable, even if, like me, you have never thought about putting a barbie you know where. She navigates complex and often challenging topics with whimsical ease and impressively uncovers the humour and joy where others would struggle. Her accessible approach to comedy is refreshing and amusing in equal measure meaning that you can journey home still chuckling about miscommunications with babysitters whilst simultaneously aware of the pressures placed on young girls by society and the beauty industry.
Kemsley delivers a slick and well-devised hour of comedy peppered with callbacks and a set where tangential anecdotes feel natural. Well worth catching out on tour if you can.
Harriet is on tour till 10 December - Tickets
Photography - Matt Crockett