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Rosie Jones: Inspiration

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An uplifting show about disability that seeks to avoid sentimentality
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Rosie Jones: Inspiration

An uplifting show about disability that seeks to avoid sentimentality

Rosie Jones, who has cerebral palsy, takes issue with the way people with disabilities are often described as 'inspirational' in this delightful debut Fringe show. Jones aims to overturn expectations about disabilities and this is reflected in the structure of her jokes: they often take a turn and end up far from where they started or where the audience thinks they're going to finish.

Jones is forced to speak slowly and uses this to her benefit, either leaving set-ups to hang suspended before slamming home a punchline or letting the audience do the work to infer an implied conclusion. This latter technique leads to nice ripples of laughter reverberating around the room.

Her tackling of the standard fare of jobs and dating is lifted by her alternative perspective on these mundanities. Material on going to the Rio Paralympics (not to compete, she makes clear, as that would be too inspirational) and using disabled loos is something that most observational comics can't cover. The show is a little slight at only 35 minutes, but Jones comes across as fresh, mischievous and utterly charming, culminating with a parting message that is uplifting despite her protestations.

Opium, until 26 Aug, 3pm, free.

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