Joanna Neary – Youth Club

Joanna Neary plays every character in this clean-cut account of adolescent life. Set in a 1980s Cornish town, the set provides a solid platform for her quirky, wide-ranging and enticing vocal performances. Her acting abilities in this context are clearly first-class.

The synthetic tackiness of much 1980s popular culture still possesses a curious pull to those who grew up with it. Neary is, apparently, no exception, peppering her Youth Club with references to the cassette tapes, chart countdowns and bad dance moves of the era.

Opening with an extended poem, the material flows effectively enough along the lines of geeky friends, bossy parents and the awkward collisions of youthful flirting. The narrative is well-paced, although the funniest moment occurs at the end, when the performer loosens the structure of the show and allows herself a jazzy song with audacious dance moves.

Neary's talent is not in doubt, but if she can blend her obvious acting prowess with the appealing silliness exhibited only fleetingly here, something special may result.