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	theSpace @ Surgeons Hall (venue website) Theatre 2-3, 5-10 Aug, 4:25pm-5:05pm
Recommended for age 14+ only.

A surreal and disturbing show about the business of performing femininity, Jewel earned five stars from our reviewer at the Brighton Fringe in May. The story of a young girl who’s desperate to win a beauty pageant, it asks hard questions but is filled with energy too. One performer, Claudia Jeffries, plays a range of roles as she captures the varied forces which shape Jewel’s life.

According to our review in Brighton, Jeffries’ performance was astounding. With a brave physicality and almost clown-like make-up, she showed how something dainty can become grotesque, almost malevolent, when it’s taken to an extreme. Underpinning it all, our reviewer said, is a plot which makes us genuinely care for Jewel’s fate, her stumbles and her triumphs.

While certainly challenging, at times demanding a lot from its audience, we found Jewel a roof-raising show from a confident and courageous performer. It’s in Edinburgh for just one week, so be sure to catch it early.