Sikisa is having a house party and we’re all invited, if you buy a ticket. The South London comedian is the perfect hostess and works hard to make everyone feel welcome, which is not to say this show is all sweetness and light, oh no no no some home truths come out tonight about race, sexism, Brexit, and Hannah.
Life of the Party is, as you would expect, a story about a house party Sikisa held. Punctuated with regular dance breaks that allow her to abruptly bring the story back on track should she digress, this is a fast-paced show packed with smart asides, piercing observations and the lived experience of a black woman living in the UK, a perspective we hear embarrassingly little of in the UK. It’s great to see Sikisa take full advantage of her platform.
Sikisa never takes advantage of being a high-status comedian. Her empathy and kindness shine through even when she’s being a boss and letting a gentleman on the front row know exactly how she feels about him (pretty good).
This is necessary, because if Sikisa’s audience didn’t feel safe, she’d never be able to get a party atmosphere going. As it happens Life of the Party is great fun and well worth inviting yourself to.
★★★★
Sikisa: Life of the Party is at the Pleasance Courtyard at 20:25 until 28th August. For tickets visit EdFringe.com.