Alice-India @ The Three Sisters

Performing in a glorified broom closet, Alice-India has no choice but to engage extensively with the crowd. That might seem counterintuitive, but it makes perfect sense – she interacts with us so often and in such a friendly manner that you feel as though you’re listening to a kindly acquaintance tell a story while you rest your legs. That’s not to put you off, though – India sets you at ease.

The other reason India has to get to know her audience is that the premise of her show Be Brave (Or Whatever) is to make new friends (she tells us she only has three, two of whom are her mother and her boyfriend; we find that hard to believe given how personable and exuberant she is). She asks us thoughtful and sometimes tricky questions about our relationships: who are our best friends? What do we look for in a friend? The show even culminates in a “friend wedding” to one lucky member of the audience which, although fun and silly, is somewhat messy given the size of the room.

Alice's crowdwork dominates the set, which is great because that’s where she really shines. She manages to make engaging and witty content from it, without ever really picking on us or making us uncomfortable. The furthest she pushes it is in a brilliant section where she asks various audience members whether they like her, and if so, what specifically they like (we quickly learn that she will not accept ‘hair’ as a valid answer).

India’s search for intimacy in an audience might just prove successful (even if it was only set up in jest). She builds rapport quickly, is charming and willing to indulge us in our fancies (even if our fancy is for her to leave the room again in order to perform a proper walk-on). It feels relaxed and easy, and she wins our hearts with remarkable charm.

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Alice-India: Be Brave (Or Whatever), The Three Sisters (The Wee Room), until 28 Aug, 8.45pm, free unticketed, pay-what-you-can at end of show