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Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghVictoria Melody uses theatre to unpick the mechanics of the comedy world – with some fascinating discoveries about neurodivergence along the wayVictoria Melody likes to throw herself into things. For previous shows, the performance artist has immersed herself in the worlds of pigeon fanciers, beauty pageants and funeral directors – to name just a few. Her headfirst enthusiasm is what drives these performances, as much as the fascinating communities she investigates. The same is true of new show Head Set, in which Melody explores a passion of her own: standup comedy.Disenchanted with theatre, Melody has turned to plan B: become a comedian. After all, she tells us, people have always found her funny. Punctuated by the nonplussed comments of her standup teacher (“Where’s the punchline?”), Melody takes the audience on an entertaining tour of the open-mic comedy circuit, where her quirky brand of humour dies on stage night after night. Struggling to communicate with audiences, her quest for advice leads to a diagnosis of her own neurodivergence. Curious about the possible links between comedy and ADHD, Melody then decides to turn herself into an experiment – one that her standup audiences find unexpectedly hilarious.Head Set is at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh, until 28 August.All our Edinburgh festival reviews. Continue reading...