Amy Gledhill: Make Me Look Fit on the Poster – Soho Theatre

As a quadruple Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee with appearances on TV shows such as Live At The Apollo and Would I Lie To You? under her belt, Amy Gledhill has been dubbed one of comedy’s brightest new stars. In her solo show Make Me Look Fit on the Poster, now playing at Soho Theatre, she proves why.

The Soho crowd don’t need much warming up (impressive, given it was 9pm on a Tuesday), but Gledhill still kicks things off with brash energy by asking us all to take off our knickers and throw them at her in appreciation. Realising the logistical challenges of her request, she gives us a hand by opening up a box of underwear and chucking them into the audience for us to shower back down on her.

This perfectly kicks off a fun and cheeky hour of comedy where Gledhill examines body image, relationships, and self-esteem. Whether she’s lamenting over the fact that comedians are suddenly getting hotter or recoiling in horror when faced with the memory of being rescued at Go Ape, Gledhill delivers every line with a breezy confidence that makes the audience feel comfortable from the off.

The fluidity with which she takes us from anecdote to anecdote, punchline to punchline, gives the impression that you’re just listening to a very funny mate catching you up on what’s been going on in their life, unafraid to go off on a tangent at every turn. But Gledhill manages to tie all of these threads—even the most seemingly unconnected—together, resulting in some final punchlines which pay off sublimely.

Her physical comedy is superb, as especially demonstrated in a gag about a massage chair and a recreation of a dodgy “willy kiss” (I’ll let you figure that one out yourself) she performed on an ex-boyfriend.

She’s unafraid to take a moment to reflect on something more serious, such as the brutal letter she kept from her ex or her experience being groped on a train. But she always manages to find the funny again when she needs to.

Gledhill absolutely exudes charm with a compulsive likeability, backed up by the relatability of her material. Make Me Look Fit on the Poster is a delightful hour of stand up that cements Amy Gledhill’s status as a burgeoning comedy icon.

Amy Gledhill: Make Me Look Fit on the Poster is playing at Soho Theatre until 8th February. Find tickets: https://sohotheatre.com/events/amy-gledhill-make-me-look-fit-on-the-poster-2/

Reviewer: Olivia Cox

Reviewed: 28th January 2024

North West End UK Rating: