Amy Annette @ Pleasance Courtyard
Giggly noughties nostalgia from Edinburgh Fringe newcomer Amy Annette
How do you feel about nostalgia from an era of boybands, floppy hair and diet culture? Mostly As: I lived through it and still wear my Tammy Girl strappy pants with pride; Mostly Bs: I was too busy playing The Sims to notice; or Mostly C: Sorry, all of those things still exist in the year of our lord 2024 (yes, even Tammy Girl). Amy Annette would plump for all three in Thick Skin, her debut hour.
Early doors you’re charmed by Annette’s easy, conversational style, dripping in 90s and 00s teen touchstones from magazine quizzes to Kate Moss’ immortal quote “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels”. The message of the hour, one of body image and self worth, feels a little route one, but happily in Annette’s company, you don’t mind the lack of surprise. She’s a vibrant, giggly host who parades in front of her audience with ease, slipping in as many refs to a millennial youth as possible.
Her questioning of the audience about bread, and workshopping of a new catchphrase (which we’ll be saying for a while) displays a whimsy which we’d be keen to see Annette explore more. The hour is fairly straightforward otherwise and despite Thick Skin being a light and enjoyable set, there are points where you wish she would go further, sillier, wringing absolutely everything out of a topic before moving on. At times the show verges on a gentle show-and-tell which, whilst our speaker is engaging, isn’t the most joke-heavy of formats.
Thick Skin is tailor-made for a millennial audience, with Annette shining as a beacon of teenage trust. You’d immediately count on her to take your crush’s name to the grave and laugh about it in the years to come.
Amy Annette: Thick Skin, Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker Two), until 25 Aug, 4.25pm, £9-13