16 Postcodes ★★★★★

The titular 16 Postcodes of Jessica Regan’s solo show represent each of the districts she’s lived during her twenty years in the UK’s capital. From Clapham Junction to Holloway Road to Mile End and just about everywhere in between, each location comes with its own story. Sometimes an audience member is invited to select one (almost entirely selected based on if they live or have lived there), sometimes Regan does so herself.

Monologues cover everything from the breakdown of relationships, dodgy landlords, squalid living conditions, phantom pregnancies, illness, and, at one point, there’s even a ghost story. It’s mostly relatable stuff for anyone trying to adult in a city that is notoriously tricky to navigate.

Regan is an extremely charismatic presence, with her easy Irish charm quickly winning over audiences. Employing a range of accents as she introduces her cast of characters, she’s a talented and versatile actress, serving each story with considerable aplomb. A soundtrack of pop hits plus original work by her sister keeps the energy high throughout, as do her frequent interactions with her audience.

As there isn’t time to run through all locations in the one-hour running time, this conceivably could mean a different show each day. While this could make one wary of recommending a show that has the potential to be inconsistent, with a performer as talented as Regan, it’s more likely that you’ll want to catch it a second time to enjoy a different set of her stories.

16 Postcodes is a must-nab ticket for anyone who likes their theatre autobiographical, peppered with equal measures of laughs and poignancy.