We all have our own ‘storyland’, according to Lynn Ferguson. Different stories can ignite other people’s storylands, urging us to share experiences with each other. This is why our punchy performer believes the swapping of stories will prolong the survival of humanity. The award-winning writer, and sometimes voice-actor (see Chicken Run and its sequel), brings us a quietly funny (but not quite laugh-out-loud hilarious) confessional in a poignant reflection on her life. 

The 58-year-old is like a chatty Scottish agony aunt. Her delivery takes us through each of her stories with the ease of a professional, while her conversational tone and welcoming aura ensures everyone in the room feels at home. A wholesome interaction between Ferguson and an audience member (her long-lost friend from college) sets up the relaxed structure of this show straight away. Speaking to us rather than at us, Ferguson creates a comfortable atmosphere where she can share her tender tales to an invested crowd. 

Having moved from Scotland to Los Angeles (which she claims is not too different from Grangemouth), Ferguson describes how her family has coped with the helplessness of world affairs in the past few years. When covid hit, they decided to build a chicken coop, because who isn’t happy around chickens? When Russia invaded Ukraine, their feelings of helplessness drove them to erect a beehive in their garden (because everyone knows bees are saving the world). 

Reflecting on her struggle with breast cancer (which she refers to as ‘the Piers Morgan’) and consequent mastectomy, she reveals an achingly positive outlook on life. She swears she may not be here today had she not learned (through other stories) the risk of undetected cancer in people with dense breast tissue. Her life motto is that ‘no matter what happens to you, you can always choose what story you’re in.’ Although her comedy doesn’t leave the crowd in tears, many are so touched by her wise and warm way of seeing the world that they shed a few anyway. 

See here for full Scottish tour dates; reviewed at Gilded Balloon Teviot, Edinburgh.