Sexy Brain is Tiff Stevenson’s tenth Edinburgh show – a mighty feat for any comedian. The main question any comic in this position will be asking themselves is, how they can offer fresh material but at the same time keep the unique voice that they’ve built up over the years? Luckily with this show, this potential problem was never an issue. This is Tiff Stevenson at her finest.
This is Tiff Stevenson at her finest
It's a bold start from Stevenson, who comes out on stage and proclaims that she is a sexually independent woman in her forties. She’s strong, she’s confident, nothing stands in her way. Nothing, it seems, apart from her “sexy brain” – her term for her ADHD. It seems to affect a lot of her life and we hear a few examples throughout. Some are brilliantly constructed, lengthy journeys through her thought process. Others are simple and quick one liners – including a brilliantly cringe-worthy example in front of her step-son which got some suberb reactions in the room.
As with past shows, there is a strong feminist message that runs throughout. This is the unique voice that Stevenson has built in her previous work. Her material is not only funny, but engaging and thought provoking. Whether she’s taking issue with the culture surrounding ‘Karens' or simply looking out for the wellbeing of leading actresses in movies, the audience is engrossed. This is one of the strengths of the show. I noticed that, not only were people laughing, but smiling in recognition and nodding along to some very well-made points. Honestly, I’m surprised there weren’t at least three applause breaks in this show.
What’s really lovely about Sexy Brain is that Tiff Stevenson has built a show around a condition that some may think of as a weakness and turned it into an almighty strength. Her material surrounding getting older as a woman, her femininity and her gender didn’t come from a place of victimhood. It came from a place of power. For the entire hour, she was charge of the room. I could have easily, and happily, listened to more for much longer. Sexy Brain is an absolute belter of a show.
