My Grandpa Doesn’t follow me on Instagram - Jelly Belly Underbelly Cowgate - Review

The Edinburgh Fringe gives those wanting to use theatre and art to tell a personal story a stage (literally) and there are lots of moving, important and exciting stories out there to be told. These type of stories can be windows into the lives of the performers, glimpses into moments of their lives that touched them, meant a lot to them and perhaps even changed the way in which their lives were heading. And all of this is brought to life in My Grandpa Doesn’t Follow Me on Instagram, a story told by Yoz Mensch, about a road trip Mensch went on with their 80 year old Aussie grandpa to visit the site of their grandma’s ashes in Scotland, all whilst they hid their true identity as a closeted trans-woman and debated coming out to their grandpa.

This deeply personal, moving and at times very funny tale is told by Mensch alone, aided only with a single chair as a prop and a backdrop onto switch they project Instagram stories and messages from that time in their life.

This is a coming out story with a difference, no outbursts of conflict, no big public revelations, just a road trip, quiet and peaceful with funny anecdotes of peculiar hotel staff, shared beers and room layouts that don’t make sense. The conflict here is internalised, bubbling away inside Mensch as they debate whether to be open or not. We are made witnesses to those moments, the internal thoughts as Mensch briefly logs out of the narrative and addresses us directly explaining the complex thoughts. And it’s very powerful.

Acted out phone calls home to Australia add more understanding to the family dynamic, the tell me but not grandpa (or Pa as they call him) ideas of it’s going to take some time to adjust and build up to that. And with Mensch playing not only themselves, but their grandfather, we see the generation gap. The young generation who want to talk, to ask questions, to get everything out on the open to the older generation who seem to be more selective in what they choose to talk about and do. As they travel up to Scotland, Mensch shares what they saw, shares how Grandpa prefers to stay at the bar and enjoy a beer whilst Mensch sight sees, taking some oh so important time for themselves to be themselves.

As a solo performer, Mensch is captivating, effortlessly balancing the want to reveal all and be open with choosing the right time. They weave true powerful emotions with comedy, sharing videos of themselves exploring castles whilst Grandpa sits in the courtyard and messages with family about how to get Grandpa’s trademark phrases right for this production. A particular comedic highlight comes when Mensch is given long and complicated instructions to find their room in a castle hotel, followed by a hilarious video of this corridor and stairway journey.

Pacing wise, this production perhaps takes a little while to really get going as the idea is introduced and the road trip begins. But pretty soon you begin to feel as if you know Mensch and Grandpa with their dynamic established and their different ways of looking at the worlds clear to see.

Overall, It is all very honest, funny, and beautiful and Mensch’s ability to jump from role to role should be praised as they make this coming out story something brave and different from what you may expect.