Katy Baird’s Workshy is a show about her life, eventful and uneventful alike, presented in an authentic and endearing piece of performance art. It can be hard to say that a show where someone pisses into a carafe and drinks it is endearing, but it really was.

It can be hard to say that a show where someone pisses into a carafe and drinks it is endearing, but it really was.

The main structure of the show had Baird talking us through her CV, a list of some of the most undesirable jobs she has ever had, in a Wetherspoon’s Kitchen, a burger king and as a drug dealer. Jobs that some people are lucky enough to have escaped but for those of us that have been there (even just a little bit) it was beautiful to see this low-waged and looked-down-upon lifestyle portrayed without shame. For me this was a rare chance to see the working class without the stereotypes, whilst laughing.

One section that brought me to tears (to my surprise) was the inclusion of Burger king staff training videos that used personal tragedies, like the return of breast cancer, to teach us patronising morals about the virtues of customer service. Set against Baird’s very real material this seemed so vapid and devoid of humanity.

For me this was a rare chance to see the working class without the stereotypes, whilst laughing.

Baird’s talent for composition continued unfalteringly when the aforementioned piss came straight after bringing in a delivery man from a local take away from whom she had ordered chips for the whole audience.

It was this complete understanding of our journey as an audience and the complete authenticity that made this a performance that will stay with me for a long time.

Alice Boulton-Breeze