One Woman Show Yvette, Mixes Garage Music With Street Poetry

Yvette, Bush Theatre ★★★★☆

By Chris Bridges Last edited 70 months ago

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One Woman Show Yvette, Mixes Garage Music With Street Poetry Yvette, Bush Theatre 4
Photo: Kaya Stanley-Money

Urielle Klein-Mekongo's semi-autobiographical one-woman show is a refreshingly bold mix of garage music, street poetry and monologue. It's also a triumph of personal strength over adversity. She plays Yvette, a 13-year-old girl from Neasden who's dressed in her best 'Hello Kitty' bra and pants set and is desperate to lose her virginity to a hot boy. She raps, dances and lets us into her thoughts and it's compelling stuff.

This is a heavy story, with the mean lighter skinned girls from school, the strict African mother and the sinister 'uncle'. It's clear from the start that as funny as Urielle is, she's still going to take us to some dark places. What elevates the piece and makes it joyously watchable is her natural warmth and verve.

As she tells us: this may be a story about sexual abuse but these acts aren't her whole life. She refuses to let that be her story. I defy you to see this and not come away feeling uplifted by this incredible woman.

Yvette, The Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, Shepherd's Bush, W12 8LJ, £10-£12. Until 23 May.

Last Updated 22 May 2018