This show is like taking improvisation to the next level. As you enter the venue, a metal clothing rack with masks hanging from it is set up on stage. Nina Conti: Whose Face Is It Anyway? is one of the most popular shows I’ve seen at this year’s Fringe, with such a large crowd that there was even a five-minute delay. The hype is well deserved, as this BAFTA nominee and British Comedy Award winner delivers world-class improvisational ventriloquism. The entire show is broadcast live on screen, ensuring that every detail of the action is visible to everyone in the audience.
Stands in a league of its own
Nina Conti walks on stage to thunderous applause. She carries a straw bag from which she retrieves her sidekick and assistant for the show: a small, innocent-looking monkey puppet. But once Conti places him in her hand, he quickly becomes the bad cop to her good cop, adding a sassy and entertaining twist to the performance. The show is unscripted and tailored for each night, meaning that the performance I saw will never be repeated. While future shows may have similar elements, each will be distinct and unique.
When it comes to humour, ventriloquism stands in a league of its own. Conti's charisma puts the room at ease as she interacts with the audience, exploring their jobs and interests before inviting a few willing participants on stage.
She selects a mask for each volunteer, covering the bottom half of their faces. Each mask features a different nose, mouth and chin, which help bring out the character once it's on. Conti assigns a unique voice to each individual and uses a cable hanging from the masks to control their mouth movements. Drawing from the limited information and context she has gathered about each person, she creates skits where she interprets their body language and continues the conversation. The exercise explores human non-verbal communication, revealing how our bodies express more than we might realise. Conti reads these cues within seconds, crafting witty and humorous responses that perfectly match the volunteers' movements. The result is a clever and amusing performance, as the volunteers become her puppets, with her voice aligning seamlessly with their actions.
First up on stage was a photovoltaic electrician from London, followed by a pair of siblings, and then a man about to go on holiday with his entire family, including his partner, mother, father, and a family friend. Conti effortlessly improvised skits, maintaining amusing conversations with up to five characters simultaneously. While the routine might have had moments of repetition, Nina Conti’s distinctive ventriloquism offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
