Gina Yashere at Artsdepot

With a new appreciation for subtle English “ninja” racism, Gina Yashere is back from the USA, riotously tackling issues of politics and current affairs. In her candid, no-bullshit style, she kicks off her UK tour at Artsdepot in North London.

Playing off her audience, Yashere is quick-witted and boisterous as she spots the only two under-18 audience members sitting in the front row and educates them on new versus old technologies, the downfalls of doing drugs, and how bullying and paedophilia have changed since her time.

Current and timely, there isn’t any subject matter that’s too sensitive for Yashere to share her two cents on. However, exploring briefly the Ariel Castro case, a man that kept three women captive in his basement for 10 years in Ohio, she explains how one victim said she could hear her family barbecuing from where she was held. Although the observations that Yashere makes are comical, this is the only part of her routine that seems in poor taste, given the gruesome nature of the incident. Perhaps it’s a bit soon to be making light of the situation just yet.

But despite this lapse in judgement, Yashere is personable and animated when she shares her anecdotes and opinions, making the show intriguing to watch. It is more like an honest conversation between old friends as she says aloud what we are all thinking with unapologetic conviction.

As an educated and well-travelled woman of Nigerian decent, raised in England, she has a unique perspective on women working in a male-dominated field, and she is eager to name names and point out the ignorant people from earlier on in her career.

Yashere has a genuine and easy-going personality that is a pleasure to see on stage and her hour-and-a-half-long set is time well spent.

Natasha Fonseka

For further information and future events visit Gina Yashere’s website here.