Dundee Fringe, 14/09/2024
Writer, actress and comedian Lubna Kerr had the audience in fits of laughter last night as she performed her one woman show ‘Chatterbox’ at the Keiller Centre as part of the Dundee Fringe.
Chatterbox is the second instalment of a planned trilogy about life growing up as a first-generation immigrant in 70s Glasgow, with a focus on how the labels we are given as children persist into adulthood. Despite the show’s heavy themes, it was incredibly funny and engaging as Kerr used the power of language to her advantage through great comedic writing and conscientiousness.
The show opened with Lubna re-reading her childhood diary, remembering the racist comments her teacher Mrs. McDonald would make in her early school years. Kerr places importance on the fact that she was branded as stupid (constantly) growing up due to her stutter and the fact that English wasn’t her first language.
The label ‘stupid’ acts as a marker in Kerr’s journey towards a label she is proud of- ‘Chatterbox’. There is a constant switch between traditional theatre and comedy style throughout; one re-enactment of her childhood experience follows a comedic commentary- with incredible impressions of cruel teachers, strange neighbours and vicious bullies.
Kerr discusses her father at length throughout, initially introducing him during the first diary reading and the audience learn that they initially came to Glasgow because he was offered to study his PhD in Chemistry at Strathclyde. The illusion of the ‘Great’ Britian which her parents imagined before coming here was, well, great- yet once settled they only faced discrimination and unwarranted hatred. The story Kerr tells of her father is beautiful as she transforms one traumatic story of being threatened with a cricket bat by school bullies into a heartwarming tale of her families weekly cricket games in the park.
It was their Glaswegian neighbour who first called Lubna chatterbox as a child, which was finally a label she liked. After being ridiculed for her lack of good English throughout school and her stutter, the label was almost a reward for her. Kerr said, “I wanted to be liked, to be heard, to make people laugh” and being seen this way helped.
I enjoyed the comedic critique of typical British stereotypes, “are you a protestant, catholic, or vegetarian Muslim?” especially had me howling. The show struck the perfect balance of emotional and funny and the superb delivery in punchlines made for an engagingly intimate hour.
Kerr’s focus on the power of language unites the show’s exploration of racist stereotypes, being bullied as a person of colour, and the damaging labels we are given as children. This was a well written show which managed to capture so much in only an hour. Kerr delivered a powerful and provocative performance, and I am eager to see the final part of the trilogy when it arrives.
Written by Eva Milne, Lifestyle Editor for The Magdalen
Comments