Review: Tiff Stevenson: Bombshell, Wardrobe Theatre

Tiff Stevenson’s no-holds-barred Bombshell is a shining example of her impressive ability to keep an audience enraptured while delivering challenging views and strong opinions.

This perfectly-paced show moves from a more light-hearted opening bit about menstruation smoothly through to issues of identity politics, casual sexism and unconscious bias. It’s a skilful pushing of boundaries while remaining in good taste. Tiff expresses her opinions on all kinds of subjects but, much to her credit, always aims to invite considered debate rather than trying to get the final word in herself.

There can be a tendency when talking about female stand-ups to focus on gender, and appreciation of the fact that women are still in a minority on the comedy circuit. While Tiff certainly uses this position to address issues such as chauvinist subway policy and misogynist advertising, she never allows herself to be boxed into a single subject. She’s as canny on international politics and reactionary journalism as any other comedian, even if topics like Donald Trump and Brexit feel a bit well-trodden by this point.

On stage, Tiff’s palpable emotions come across through well-written material rather than exaggerated delivery. It’s obvious that she’s talking passionately about her opinions from a truthful place, rather than out of a need to tick certain subject boxes.

In one section about the Grenfell fire she dials back on the humour to deliver a thoughtful condemnation of a news reporter’s appalling interview manner towards one victim. Her compassion and sympathy shine through, losing no momentum to the show even when the laughs are absent.

It’s also very telling of her comedic skill that I felt uncomfortable rather than defensive in the face of material at the expense of the male members of the audience. The underlying anger and frustration of the show is wound so tightly into Tiff’s charming stage persona that she’s able to call out any group at any time without giving offence. There’s always a strong justification or an assertive confidence to any piece of material. She’s not saying these things for the sake of being shocking – she’s finding smart, palatable ways to deliver challenging ideas.

And, as with all great stand-ups, she’s unafraid to turn the magnifying glass back upon herself. Telling a story about a snap judgment made towards a non-white person on public transport may not be the most original conceit, but the depth and time afforded to probing the moment certainly are. Tiff comes round to the idea that having subconscious bias doesn’t make her a bad person, and it’s through this final tale that she also brings her audience round to the most important concepts of the show. That hearing out the opinions of others isn’t the end of the world, and that we shouldn’t always be on the defensive.

Bombshell is a near-perfect hour of stand-up that went by extremely quickly, even if a few ideas and areas did feel a bit overly familiar. This isn’t a show about forcing views down your throat – it’s about interrogating our own ideas and how we react to those who think and feel differently. It’s also very funny, with a talented and experienced stand-up at its heart.

Tiff Stevenson performed Bombshell at the Wardrobe Theatre on Friday, April 6. For more Wardrobe Theatre comedy lineups, visit thewardrobetheatre.com/whats-on

Read more: Interview: Tiff Stevenson