[AD – PR invite*]
★★★★
Truly Siskind-Weiss’ ‘The Strongest Girl in the World’ is a deeply personal piece of theatre about her experiences losing her father to kidney cancer at a young age. Returning to the Edinburgh Fringe for 2025, the show uses childlike monologues and props to tell this heartbreaking story, where Truly revisits her former self and recollects the few memories she has of her father. In what feels like a 60-minute theatrical scrapbook, audiences are transported to the 2000s and Truly’s world as a 10 year old, which is filled with Summer camp references and nostalgia.
Structure and performance style
The non-linear structure isn’t always the easiest to follow with the character flicking between vignettes of her childhood, specific memories of her Dad and present day thoughts, but the performer uses the phrase ‘My name is Truly Siskind-Weiss and this is the story of…’ to bring audiences back to the show’s purpose at regular intervals. It’s a welcome addition that helps audiences follow along with the many different anecdotes.
Visual design
The set design is reminiscent of a 10-year-old girl’s bedroom. The backdrop is a pastel pink and there is a shelf full of colourful books. It is an incredibly visual piece of theatre, with Truly using custom pop-up books to tell parts of the story. From a crackling log fire to the occasional humorous word soaring out of the pages, the 3D books are such an exciting way to visualise her childhood and make this one-person show stand out.
Emotional and heartfelt
From the writing, you can absolutely tell how Truly’s life was turned upside down after her father’s passing. To take this sadness and turn it into a beautiful, reflective and celebratory show, is nothing short of inspiring. You can catch ‘The Strongest Girl in the World’ at the Snug venue in Gilded Balloon Patter House until 25th August (not 12th and 19th). Performances start daily at 14:20, with tickets available via the festival’s website.
*My ticket for ‘The Strongest Girl in the World’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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