REVIEW: ‘Piss Be With You’

Descending the steps to The Substation for Cleo Rapture’s one woman show, I had no idea

what to expect. Knowing a little about Cleo I was surprised to see her signature pole missing.

The phrase ‘piss be with you’ instantly conjured up memories of cold pews and Sunday morning

hymns - which was exactly the point. From the second Cleos voice was heard over the speakers

encouraging us to reply ‘ and also with you’ as a group refrain, I was in. From the rhinestone

urine collection cups that Cleo fed people from (this was the opening moment) to prose like

monologues about loneliness and frustration, Cleo had the entire audience eating (or sipping?) out of the palm of her hand.

A fascinating mix of stand-up, spoken word poetry and pole dancing - ‘Piss Be With You’ is a

brave and bold discussion about the queer community. An exploration of sex and shame that

will have you both laughing and nodding in agreement regardless of where you sit on the

spectrum.

Cleo has exceptional stage craft, easily guiding us from the absurd and silly to the

heartbreaking. I was sad to miss this piece at Fringe and was thrilled to be able to catch it this

time - my high expectations were thoroughly met, and then some. Go for the incredible pole

choreography, stay for the 200 or so piss jokes. A wonderful show that I will keep my fingers

(and legs) crossed to return in the very near future. Amen.