Sinead Walsh offers a warm sense of hospitality as their audience enters The Mash House’s attic. They’re standing just a few steps from the door hanging out as their set is about to begin giving each person a smiley “heya”. From these greetings, to asking the new audience members for introductions, Walsh is warming everyone up even more than the sticky attic.
Workshopping a set Walsh is taking on tour after the Fringe, they do a stellar job of using a small theme to link one bit to the next in each subsequent story in their hour. Finding gender dysphoria and euphoria in the most peculiar places, Walsh shares their ridiculous experiences of being publicly perceived: those which have put them on high alert and those that have put them at ease, depending on strangers’ judgements on their gender-based on their appearance.
As Walsh recounts the eventual small win that comes from fighting against budget airlines’ incessant attempts to have them pay for a seat on a flight that has already been paid for, their comedic use of body language and timing truly shines. Bye Bye Baby is a hoot, full of relatable growing pains. One that says: we can only hope that going through all that shit will make us stronger people on the other end.
Sinead Walsh: Bye Bye Baby, Just the Tonic at The Mash House, until 16 Aug (not 12), 6.40pm