Bella Hull review: An exceedingly funny and intelligent comedy voice
Edinburgh Fringe
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Edinburgh Fringe 〰️
Image: The Other Richard
by Zoe Paskett
Finally, a comedian talking about glob culture. Representation for people who like their food best in big, round lumps! As a kid, I used to like to take handfuls of white bread and crush it in my hand into a solid ball and eat it like an apple – it’s not exactly the same thing as a Bella Hull’s food globs, but it’s in the same family, shape-wise.
There’s plenty else in Piggie that will ring true to many. A perceptive comedian with a deceptively light tone, her genial style compliments the nature of the conversation around food and body image. Such issues are a minefield for teenage girls and former teenage girls, but we make light of it because otherwise we’d have to properly deal with the depth of that damage. So let’s just not do that!?
Bella treats us to an exceedingly funny and charming hour. We learn about her unlikely childhood friendship with the carpenter making over her kitchen, and her unlikely current friendship with her 89-year-old Jehovah’s Witness neighbour, Henry, relying on both of them to meet her basic needs. The former fed her multipacks of crisps, and the latter prays every night so she can get to sleep listening to him through the wall. She marries the influence of these two men on her life in a wonderfully surprising way.
She has a wicked turn of phrase, always delivered with a smile despite how awful the story may be, including one particular boyfriend with a lot of opinions about ethical porn. She knows what to reveal and what to hold back.
Piggie is a particularly interesting show to be experiencing now, as we circle back around to the 00s aesthetic and with it, many of the body image expectations that plagued young women as we were coming of age. Bella is an intelligent comedy voice with a lot to say on the matter, in a way that leaves you feeling both cheery and satisfied.
Bella Hull: Piggie is at Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker Three) at 21:45. Tickets here
