I Can Make You Thin(k) (Upstairs at Three & Ten, Brighton)

I can make you thin(k), the debut stand up comedy show by Jessica Pidsley is an hilariously funny, unique and heart-warming piece, that any woman who has ever counted a calorie, tried a fad diet, or worried about their image will really relate to. Pidsley takes us on a journey through the thoughts and emotions that she had during her battle with weight loss and, more importantly, the battle with her self confidence. She embarks on a quest to love herself, and to spread this message to all women who have been through the same.

The show itself is loosely based around Paul McKenna’s I Can Make You Thin books and starts off in the same style with a dark room and with a voiceover ‘hypnotising’ us to enjoy the show. We are instructed to close our eyes and, while they are supposed to be closed, crude images flash upon a big screen and the laughter starts from there.

Pidsley is brutally open and honest about herself and we see her weight loss story through many pictures of her teenage years, stifling laughter as they are photographs that most people would never dare show to anyone. She has the courage to laugh at herself and share her innermost thoughts with us as she touches upon situations, attitudes and feelings that all women can empathise with, but she does it in a fantastically comical way. She soon has us all laughing about situations that are often painful to many but, with her spin, she really does make you think.

The show has been creatively put together using a big screen with short video clips all telling one women’s journey to losing four stone in weight, and beating that “inner voice” we all have. She is enthusiastic, witty and endearing and the audience are entertained and engaged throughout the show, filling the room was with rip-roaring laughter.

As the laughter continues, she ends the show with her main point, a message that we should all start to love ourselves more and, even if we are just learning to do so, we should start today. We are all given a badge to wear to show this, which is a really nice touch.

When all is said and done this is a comedy show, so funny that she had the audience literally crying with laughter, however we also leave the room feeling really positive about ourselves. Each and every one of us feeling our self confidence boosted and knowing, full well, that she really did make us think!