OommoO – I Am A Walking Universe @ Summerhall

If you’re planning to see OommoO, here are some pointers. Firstly, although it doesn't require audience interaction, it is call-and-response: if Lula Mebrahtu calls on the audience, respond. Secondly, try to go with friends (get a group booking discount), because there are so many micro-details, you’ll benefit from comparing notes. Thirdly, go back in time and watch the previous OommoO, because this one is a follow-up; I wish I knew this in 2023.

This OommoO tells the story of Lula (Mebrahtu’s fictionalised namesake), whose uterine fibroids swell so much that they make her look pregnant, giving rise to questions of beauty, the mind-body barrier, heritage and how Black women are treated by the medical establishment. The main character, Lula, has a kaleidoscopic personality – perhaps too many facets for cohesion, but effectively conveyed in a series of vignettes which slot together like a Scalextric track. The show doesn't stop being interesting for a moment.

Halfway through the show, Lula asks for five stars from the audience – unfortunately, tech complications make this afternoon's show slightly clunky and delayed; frustrating for anyone with a tight Fringe schedule (have you tried getting from Summerhall to the Royal Mile in under ten minutes? I have. I failed.) Mehbratu's voice and her sound effects are in a fight for volume dominance in a venue which is, acoustically, like a well.

Despite these difficulties, Mebrahtu is a consummate performer, bounding about like a cat, singing like a bird, and landing jokes and emotional beats with ease (I particularly loved her character presenting her first period as a Star Wars prologue). Furthermore, she controls sound and lighting from the stage which, as both a multitasking event and extreme degree of artistic control, is impressive. The tech gloves really suit her, too.

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OommoO – I Am A Walking Universe, Summerhall (Demonstration Room), until 26 Aug, 1.40pm, £14.50-17