What do you do when your husband leaves you for your teenage goddaughter? If you’re anything like Tracey Yarad, you dye your wedding dress black and star in your own Fringe show. Speaking to the audience like old friends, with a narrative punctuated by rich vocals and keyboard, Yarad takes us through her turbulent marriage. 

All These Pretty Things is a story of pain, heartache, recovery and self-love, but these emotions are sadly not altogether apparent on the surface of Yarad’s performance. It’s clear that she has healed from that relationship, but perhaps her performance would be more evocative if she harkened back to those feelings and let us see behind the mask more.

There are moments when her pain is tangible and a poignant stage presence and stark confessional style both captivate. One particularly striking portion retells the moment Yarad’s husband admits he crossed a line with their goddaughter, sending her into the ‘ruins of her life’; she stands and uses her powerful voice to express the heartbreak. The songs, while beautifully performed, are at some points lyrically standard, not doing enough with this complex story. Perhaps the show would benefit from a change in format, given that the vocal talent and plot are solid in their own right. 

Tracey Yarad: All These Pretty Things, C aquila, until 25 August, 5.10pm; main picture: Shervin Lainez.