Tiffany Stevenson - Dictators

Top Trumps of despots
First, that she scores power-crazed and often genocidal individuals like they were Top Trumps (stats include ‘Nicknames’ and ‘Death Count’). Second, that she rates her own mother in the top five. Third, that she thoughtfully accessorises the board with a picture of her cat Bumbles sitting in a box looking adorable, as a comforting visual lifebuoy for anyone that feels she’s stepped off the deep end.
That whimsical touch sees Stevenson safely through some pretty toe-curling subject matter. Robert Mugabe executes homosexual people: that’s a harrowing thought. How to deal with him? Book him into Pineapple Dance Studios. Poetic justice. Bashing Mugabe, Hitler and Gaddafi is not exactly a controversial position; the real strength of Dictators lies with the two less conventional entrants in Stevenson’s top five. The worst kind, after all, is the one dictating specifically to you.
The Stand III & IV, 558 7272, until 29 Aug (not 16), 2.05pm, £8 (£7).