I’d first heard about The Boy With Tape On His Face when he came to do Kill For A Seat in Chapel Allerton last year. I couldn’t make it then so I was really excited to see he was coming to Leeds again, and at the Stanley Audrey Burton Theatre, which I hadn’t yet visited.
I tweeted: Wandapops: Off to see the fabulous @kaylinabrown for drinks, gossip, then giggles watching @TapeFaceBoy perform. *cartwheels*
And got this back: TapeFaceBoy: @Wandapops @kaylinabrown The Boy will work on his cartwheels for the show.
My kind of boy! The 230 seat theatre is shiny and new, and the bar queue was a breeze. Bonus points were stacking up already.
The warm up act Katie Mulgrew was very warm and likeable indeed. She told us it was the first time she’d performed in a ballet school. “Is Leeds as posh as this all over?” she asked. “No!” was our strangely proud response.
Katie was very funny and made everyone feel at ease apart from the bit where she said the main act would be VERY interactive, and even those at the back would not be safe. Gulp.
As we filed back in we notice The Boy aka Sam Wills, already sat on the stage. His mouth is gaffer taped, like he’s been a victim of his own kidnapping. A voice announces the performance is about to start, and that if asked to play along you should do so “Or you’ll look like a cock.” Nervous giggles ensue.
Our senses are heightened. French accordion music is playing in the background, and The Boy is wearing a striped top. We are primed for mime. But it’s so much more than mime.
Without ruining it for you with details, the show’s format involves short sketches using the audience and various quirky objects as props. There are regular bursts of (pleasingly 80s and 90s) music, but you never hear The Boy’s voice. You don’t have to. The Boy has a background in street entertainment, which is clear to see as he owns the crowd. We are as much there for his entertainment as he is for ours.
The fear of being picked to go on stage gave us all an adrenalin buzz. The chosen ones find themselves joyfully and awkwardly clowning under direction. The Boy can only hope they will understand what he wants them to do, but the way he improvises when they don’t is just as amusing.
I fell in love with this unique experience of silent stand up and giggled gleefully during the hour long show. It was a great blend of energetic surreal ideas next to pared down moments that were genuinely quite touching when conveyed with The Boy’s childlike big blue eyes. *swoon*
The Boy is both charming and cheeky. He takes you on a surreal journey with no purpose other than to be playful, and we happily went along for the ride. The intimate size of the theatre suited the performance really well, and I’ll definitely be back for more comedy here.
If you missed this show, you’re in luck as The Boy with Tape on His Face is back in Leeds at The Wet Spot this Saturday night, and there are plenty of other UK dates listed here.
You can find out about other performances at the Stanley Audrey Burton Theatre on their website.
If you would like to contribute to the comedy section on The Culture Vulture, get in contact with our Comedy Editor @KayLinaBrown.