Review of Sue Perkins: A Piece of Work in Progress, Fringe 2024

Okay, I need to start this review with a disclaimer. I was very disappointed when I was told by the Pleasance press team that no media tickets were being issued for this show, as it’s a work in progress. That didn’t stop me; I bought a ticket anyway! Why?

Because it’s Sue Perkins, that’s why! She hasn’t done a standup show in 16 years. How could I not?! In fact, Dear Reader, this is the ONLY show I actually bought a ticket for this Fringe.

Having now seen the show, and armed with zero regrets and with only a long list of positive things to say about it, I don’t think she’ll be too upset if I publish this review anyway. Right, Sue? Alright, let’s get into this.

The vibe

The queue for this show was absolutely massive. As usual, I got lost in the Pleasance (can better signage happen next year, please?) and followed a couple of very nice English ladies who I’d overheard asking where to find The Grand. I mean, you know there’s an issue with signage when you can’t find The Grand!

Anyway, that’s by the by. Both English ladies kind of adopted me, we all visited the loos together, trudged along the monumental queue together, and by the time we were sitting down they’d seen my art and were offering me grapes. The auditorium was absolutely jam packed, and everyone’s in good spirits.

Sue is welcomed on stage, but before she is, she well and truly sets the tone by just checking everyone’s definitely here to see her (professional headshot comes on screen) and not Mel (various hilarious images of Mel Giedroyc appear). The vibe is Sue’s chaotic life, with humour, truth bombs and swears.

The show itself

Sue Perkins is relaxed, collected and the Sue everyone’s here to see… or is she? She starts by asking the audience which Sue they’re here to see. Is it Bake Off Sue? Taskmaster Sue? Various other Sues? She didn’t once bring up Light Lunch Sue, which is the Sue I first knew when I was at high school.

Although Sue speaking to us feels almost like a friend speaking to us at this point, we’re told none of those Sues are actually here in the room right now – and that’s fine. Standup comedy Sue (whom I’ve never before been familiar with) is hilariously funny, brutally honest, and oh so relatable.

At one point, someone’s phone rings, which Sue points out is incredibly grating, but she lets them off because she “can’t see them to attack” and doesn’t feel like blasting the entire left wing of the audience.

Sue talks about her ADHD, her brain tumour which she’s had for 18 years now (and how it’s known to cause big tits and mental breakdowns), not wanting to have kids (basically, she’s like me in that regard), and various other real things that have happened in her life.

Sue guides us through her chaotic life, including things like needing to be told what she’s doing on any given day, and her need to spend hours per day viewing property listings, all with a relaxed, ‘this is me’ tone, and a polish and confidence that makes it all funny.

It’s also very brave at times – particularly when we get to the breakdown part, which at first takes the audience a little off guard. Sue reassures us it’s alright, though; this is just something that happened. What didn’t happen, was when she supposedly fell naked onto a hoover (but everyone thinks she did).

Towards the end, we’re also introduced to the concept of Sue’s grandparents’ Wedgwood plates; all 62 of them, and how they’re a symbol of the class struggle in Britain.

She attempts to give one of these away (a 1972 Lancelot and Guinevere!) but whether that was successful or not remains to be seen (the last person to accept one ended up leaving it on stage after!).

Overall

I’ve always considered myself a fan of Sue Perkins, but this honest, funny, warts-and-all show let me in on facets of Sue I didn’t know existed – and I’m really grateful to her for that. This was such an engaging, brutal at times, entertaining hour filled with laughs that was absolutely worth every penny.

I’d definitely go back and see her again.