Little Boxes, Big Heart

★★★★

With a twinkle in her eye and a cuppa by her side, Joann Condon invites us into her world of boxes, each one filled with moments of love, laughter and life lessons. Some are challenging, like the grief box, the actor box and the fat box, while others brim with joy, like the daughter box and the motherhood box. Each one tells a different chapter of her story.

From growing up in London’s East End to appearing in Little Britain’s most memorable sketches, Condon mixes her trademark wit with warmth that feels instantly familiar. She does not just tell stories. She draws you into her living room, pours you a tea and makes you feel like you have known her for years.

Yes, she speaks candidly about losing her mum, about the sting of typecasting, about the frustrations of ill fitting costumes and body image battles. But she always finds the laugh, the lift or the life lesson. Her stories of raising children and smashing the boxes they are placed in glow with love and pride. Even in the heaviest moments, there is a sparkle that says she refuses to be defined by the labels she has been given.

The balance between comedy and reflection is beautifully handled. If anything, one or two extra celebratory beats would make the high points soar even higher. Still, I left with a smile, a full heart and a reminder that while life may give us boxes, we have the power to break them apart and build something wonderful from the pieces.

A thoughtful pause, a shared embrace through storytelling and, of course, a well earned cup of tea. The perfect mid Fringe tonic.

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Title: Little Boxes (solo show by Joann Condon)

Venue: theSpace on the Mile (Venue 39), Space 2 — Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, Edinburgh

Dates & Times: 13–16 August at 5:20 pm(Duration approx. 55 minutes)

Tickets: £12 (standard) / £10 (concessions)

Book Here