Edinburgh Fringe 2024
16 Postcodes
Jessica Regan / The Spontaneity Shop
Genre: New Writing, Solo Performance, Storytelling
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
A delightful hour of storytelling, blending polished writing with the spontaneity of improv giving us a glimpse into the often overlooked aspects of life in London
Review
Jessica Regan’s debut storytelling show, 16 Postcodes, takes the audience on a journey through the sprawling, multifaceted city of London, one postcode at a time. In 2018, while reflecting on her life in the city, Regan realized she had lived in 16 different homes, each with its own unique story. Stuck in London during the pandemic, she began to explore these past abodes in her mind, leading to the creation of this evocative and deeply personal performance.
There’s no elaborate set—just a table, a couple of chairs, a box of small props, and a row of postcodes displayed for the geographically challenged. Yet, with her easy storytelling style, Regan transports the audience to a selection of these 16 places, filling the stage with the vivid memories of her life in London. Her performance is both confident and polished, drawing us into her world.
The structure of the show is engaging, with elements of improv that keep each performance fresh. Regan invites the audience to choose the next postcode, which she then uses as a springboard into the next story. This format allows her to hop between different times and places, seamlessly weaving together tales of love, landlords, mice, and the often gritty realities of renting in London. Whether she’s recounting the green spaces of Greenwich or the grey confines of Acton, her writing is evocative, capturing the essence of each location and experience.
Regan’s stories are not just about places, but about the emotional landscapes that come with them—the uncertainties, struggles, and small triumphs of city life. She paints a vivid picture of what it’s like to navigate London with an all-too-open heart, sharing moments that are funny, sad, and occasionally dramatic. Her ability to connect with the audience is undeniable, and by the end, she even has everyone singing along—a testament to her engaging and warm-hearted performance.
16 Postcodes offers a delightful hour of storytelling, giving us a glimpse into the often overlooked aspects of life in London, particularly the precarious nature of renting. While the show is bookended by Regan’s starting and ending points, there’s a sense that what we hear is just a fraction of her story. With its charming, almost delicate style, this show is a journey across London well worth taking—one that leaves you reflecting on the places you’ve lived and the stories they hold.
