Vanity Bites Back is a unique and curiously intriguing comedy show addressing uncomfortable issues surrounding food and attitudes towards it.

Performed in Canterbury’s St Mary’s Hall Studio Theatre the focus was entirely on sole performer Helen Duff and her kitsch cooking set.

Her portrayal of Jill Grainger as an eccentric wannabe TV chef whose styling harks back to perfectly put together 1950s housewife is delightfully unhinged.

Her quirky and somewhat erratic antics create an air of spontaneity.

Her interaction with the audience, offering a welcome biscuit, is as hospitable as it is awkward, leaving the audience sitting on metaphorical egg shells.

Duff slips between comedy and hard hitting truths about what it is like to live with anorexia with the use of upbeat theme tunes to disperse the tension.

The spilling over of Jill Grainger’s stream of consciousness creates a character whose attitude towards food you are compelled to empathise with.

Slap-dash cooking skills and banter with the elusive Glen come together to make a heartily funny show.

Quick and witty lines are rife and display Duff’s comedic timing.

However, comedy is not the only thing on the menu. Underneath Duff’s neurotic optimism there is a layer of darkness.

The realistic denial of having an eating disorder cuts to the core as Jill’s happy-go-lucky character spirals into a frantic state, all brushed over with a posh accent.

Duff’s portrayal of the painful truths of living with an eating disorder is incredibly personal and tackles the undeniable taboo it comes with.

Those who have suffered will relate to what she says and those who have not will gain an insight to those who have not, making it an illuminating show for all.

Throughout, the audience is taken on a journey with Jill in order to find out what really is good enough.

Duff questions whether self worth comes from a number on the scale, a perfect cheesecake or being ok with yourself and cherishing being alive.

Vanity Bites Back is a charming and powerful showcase which resonates within the audience’s mind, creating a carefully crafted balance between the light hearted and the heart breaking.

Alex Stimson, part of the Canterbury Festival young critics scheme