When booking this show, I read the write-up on the Fringe website and thought, “Hmm, who’s Barbara Pravi?” Don’t get me wrong—I love Eurovision, but I’m not a sit-down with Cottage Pie type of watcher like Hannah Maxwell’s character. Ever since Australia started competing in Eurovision, they have lost me.

I eventually decided to attend the production because of the “concerning undertones of Baby Reindeer,” a mini-series I loved and thought might be echoed in this show. Yes, I enjoy watching the fictional drama unfold in the lives of others. It’s like I can see a reflection of my own experiences in these stories. Does that make me bad? 

As the lights dimmed and the show began, I was completely engrossed. The pacing was just right, allowing the story to unfold naturally, and the structure was well-crafted, keeping me enthralled. The way the story unfolded on stage was captivating, and I was drawn into the world of Nan, Me and Barbara Pravi. 

Hannah’s character, with her unique blend of quirkiness and coolness, was surprisingly relatable. Her interactions with Nan and the audience members were not just entertaining but also made me feel a sense of connection. I empathised with her, even when her actions were a bit cringe-worthy. 

The Baby Reindeer storyline? This is where Barbara Pravi enters the show. The character is ridiculously infatuated with Pravi, so much so that she devises a plan to meet her at one of her concerts. You’ll cringe a little at the character, thinking, “Don’t do it!” but really, you want her to because you want to watch the outcome.

Would you like to know what she does? Do you want to see if they walk off hand in hand into the sunset, or is it just a one-night thing? Or does she chicken out and live in her imagination?

It delivered a pow for a show that downplays itself a little in the write-up! Was that the plan all along? Under promise and over deliver? It is another one of the must-see shows of the Fringe.