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Francisco de Nata

 
Isabella Thompson Review by Isabella Thompson 5 Published: 13 Aug 2025 Underbelly, Bristo Square Show Dates: 30 Jul 2025-24 Aug 2025

Francisco de Nata is the larger-than-life creation of the brilliant Keaton Guimarães-Tolley, who storms the stage with castanets, party music and a mischievous glint in his eye. From the moment we meet our long-necked friend, we are his willing accomplices in a world where the ordinary becomes the extraordinary.

Clown comedy at its most inventive, intimate, and alive

Francisco communicates only in grunts, sighs and the occasional exasperated murmur, yet his emotions feel all the more visceral. Think a more measured Mr Bean without the obnoxious streak. Conjuring entire stories from inanimate objects, it is his charisma and ingenuity that skilfully carry the show. With nothing more than a wink, a tilt of the head or a forehead kiss from his giraffe costume, he instructs his audience as surely as if he were speaking, and we are under his spell. The audience participation is wonderfully simple and thoroughly cheeky.

Guimarães-Tolley is riddled with creativity: chaos unfolds with some ingenious sound cues, and even watching paint dry (literally) in silence becomes an exercise in anticipation and joy. He reads the room immaculately, knowing exactly when to push a bit, when to pivot and how to coax participants into going the extra mile – his scolding and re-instruction always delivered with a wink. Some struggle with alienating the audience in such moments; Francisco draws us closer.

As if we were not entertained enough, a surprise cameo appearance from Francisco’s Portuguese grandmother over the phone offers a glimpse into his private (albeit bonkers) world, deepening our connection further without breaking the spell of his own silence. Not that we needed it, but this also provides a fresh narrative framework that deepens our affinity with the entire show.

By the end, you leave beaming, cheeks aching from laughter, carrying the warmth of having shared in something rare – clown comedy at its most inventive, intimate and alive. Francisco de Nata is a masterclass in play, and Guimarães-Tolley’s giraffe is a bright yellow star at this year’s Fringe.

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The Blurb:

Step into the joyful and absurd world of Francisco de Nata – A giraffe. In a G-string. With a job to do. In this non-verbal clown show featuring audience interaction, puppetry and yes, a very special Portuguese custard tart, Francisco invites you on a playful journey where nonsense, vulnerability and wonder take centre stage. Tasked with painting a ceiling, his world soon unravels into beautiful chaos, but as the clock ticks and the paint dries, a tender and ridiculous story unfolds about this giraffe's love for his Avó (grandma). Will it come together before time runs out?