The Worst of Scottee (Tour – Manchester)

There isn’t one moment during The Worst of Scottee when you’re not transfixed by what is unfolding before you. It is an intense and at times slightly uncomfortable feeling.

The one-man show begins theatrically; sitting in a photobooth Scottee sings "Cry me a River" as fake inky tears gush forth from behind his large sunglasses. ‘Performance art’ he mutters at one point after he pours milk over himself.

And at first this is what it looks like, after all the Roundhouse’s artist is well known for throwing cake over Rhianna, so it is easy to assume this could follow a similar route.

But it doesn’t, instead Scottee delves into his past and recounts some of the worst things he has done from stealing money at age ten to telling his former employer he has Aids just after he has been sacked for being late to work. The photo booth is his confessional and as the show progresses he physically and metaphorically removes more layers.

The confessionals and song performances are intercut with interviews of real people who knew him. Initially the basis of the show was for the production team to contact past acquaintances that Scottee is no longer in touch with and interview them about the artist. Only three agreed to take part, there is a sense that it didn’t turn out exactly the way it was intended, but it does add an authenticity to the show.

The last confession is a heart wrenching and detailed account that changes the way you see all the other stories. As he sits in the photobooth you see his image on the screen on the side and this time he does look close to genuine tears.

The Worst of Scottee is at Contact until 22 November.