When I went along to write a review for a show entitled Wot? No Fish!! I didn’t really know what to expect – it sounded a bit silly, perhaps some kind of family show with audience participation. What I didn’t anticipate was a delightful one-man show from writer and performer Danny Braverman, bringing to light a love story which began almost a century ago between a Jewish couple, Braverman’s great-uncle and aunt, Ab and Celie Solomons.

Without giving any of the story away, the tale is, as Braverman describes it, “bitter-sweet”, funny in parts, poignant in others. It tells the story of the Jewish experience in London from the 1920s, through the Second World War, and on to the 1980s, and yet has a wonderfully universal feel, intertwining history and culture and family in the way that really great storytelling can do.

Braverman engages with the audience in a light-hearted way. It’s the kind of performance that makes you feel that it would work equally well in front of a large audience or in someone’s living room over a cup of tea. The light conversational style opens an easy rapport between the audience and performer, allowing the story to develop and the characters to become real very quickly.

The story revolves around artwork by Ab Solomons. Not only is the art wonderful, it is also extremely well-incorporated into the performance, enhancing the production, rather than stealing focus.

I highly recommend that you try to catch this show on its current tour It’s a life-affirming performance which will probably make you want to uncover a bit of your own family history.

And if none of that persuades you to go and see it, I can let you into a little secret which might change your mind: there actually is fish provided. ★★★★★   @BookingAround