Tink
Kat Kleve and Lizzy Connolly
Underbelly Bristo Square (Clover)
August 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Well that was beautiful!
When we meet Tink, she is a 5 year old, bright, bubbly fairy. Loud and confident, desperate to fly high. But over the years, her experiences at school, the words and actions of other kids, and the language of her elders start to dull her sparkle. She starts to shrink.
Seem familiar? I can certainly relate! I had a lump in my throat for the whole show.
"Performed by Kat Kleve, directed by Lizzy Connolly, and co-created by the pair, Tink is a nostalgic, uplifting musical monologue that tackles the modern experience of being female and the societal pressures that come with navigating from child to tween to teen to adult."
Kat Kleve is gorgeous as Tink. From energic fearless youngster, to downtrodden, damaged teen, Kat owns the stage and commands the audience attention. She never put a foot wrong; never once hesitated over a line - and considering the number of fairy puns she had to contend with, that is remarkable! As well as growing up in front of our eyes, and learning to deal with elves, social media and strained friendships, Kat also plays guitar and sings! She's the perfect fairy protagonist.
The songs are sweet and the script is full of humour: The fairy puns come quick and often, but every one of them is clever and well judged. Never once did the audience groan! The staging is simple but beautiful, with a few bare and coloured lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling that are used to great effect throughout the show. Tink's costumes too are stunning: Green, with a slight nod to Tinkerbell, but modern and fashionable at the same time.
Watching the story unfold in front of me I couldn't help but relate, and also feel a tinge of sadness. How many of us shrink ourselves to protect ourselves? Hide to survive. That could accurately describe my teenage years and unfortunately, it's still something I struggle with today. This show should be required viewing for every girl of secondary school age. In fact, to everyone. I'm very much older than Tink and yet I still stepped out of that performance empowered and determined to hold my head higher, to shine brighter.
A beautiful show, performed exquisitely.
Be more Tink. Never dull your sparkle.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
When and Where?
UNDERBELLY BRISTO SQUARE (CLOVER)
12:55
2nd – 20th August
60 minutes
0131 510 0395
📸 Photo credit: Michael Wharley
About Kat and Lizzy
Kat Kleve trained at the Guildford School of Acting. As a composer, she has written music for
Netflix and has been featured on BBC introducing, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Bristol. Theatre credits
includes the West End Revival of Noel Coward’s Brief Encounter directed by Emma Rice at the
Empire Cinema, Haymarket and The Original West End cast of the Tony Award Winning folk
musical Once at the Phoenix Theatre. Kat was also part of the Original West End cast of Mrs
Henderson Presents, and the No.1 UK tour of Cabaret alongside Will Young. She recently voiced
‘Tailor’ in the BAFTA longlisted animation Salvation Has No Name, and appears in the new Carey
Grant biopic Archie for ITV airing in 2023.
Lizzy Connolly trained at The Brit School and Arts Educational School London. Theatre credits
include: Assassins at Chichester Festival Theatre, Cabaret at Lido2Paris, Oklahoma at the BBC
proms, On The Town at Regent's Park Theatre, Once in a Lifetime at the Young Vic and Sweet
Charity at the Donmar Warehouse. Screen credits include: The Festival, Plebs, The Windsors and
The Canterville Ghost. She directed Cinderella: a Socially Distanced Ball (Turbine Theatre), 21
Chump Street (Courtyard Theatre) and Find a Partner for National Theatre Connections. Writing
credits include: Sitting Pretty for Brighton Fringe and her spoken word short System Frozen was
nominated for, and won, various awards in 2021.
Tink the musical review, Kat Kleve, Lizzy Connolly, Musical Theatre, Underbelly, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023
🎟️ Disclosure: I am an Edinburgh Festival Fringe accredited media reviewer and as such I receive complimentary press tickets in exchange for my honest reviews. My reviews and star ratings are always my honest opinions.
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