Writers: Jenny Lockyer, Helen Rice and Sarah Carratt
Big Duck Energy is an all-female and non-binary comedy night presented at Bridge End Social in Leeds on the third Wednesday of each month. (Note: The venue is undergoing a refurb and, your reviewer is told, a change of venue name will be forthcoming). This double bill was presented by Big Duck Energy as part of the inaugural Yorkshire Fringe.
Ballad of a Lost Cat
A one woman energy explosion, Jenny Lockyer confidently presents the audience with an eclectic array of surreal – and at times almost unhinged – comedy characters and original songs.
The musical elements of the performance tend to land a little stronger than some of the sketch characters, and there can be no doubting Lockyer’s talent both vocally and on the guitar she plays so skilfully. The rhythm and wit of the lyrics in Lockyer’s songs really sell each story, often leaning into the slightly dark side of Lockyer’s sense of humour. Musical offerings such as You Make Me Steal Things and the particularly clever What Have They Done With the Children? showcase this perfectly. The Lost Cat of the show title is an impressive display of vocal acrobatics and certainly the dark humour really shines through, though it is hard to say whether the more abstract structure of this particular ditty takes away from the storytelling or adds to the apparent psychopathy of the character within the story.
When it comes to sketch comedy characters, Lockyer is clearly an accomplished performer. There a some detailed impressions presented during the course of the hour, a highlight being a cigar wielding Columbo (complete with trademark brown mac) in a turn as The Ghost of Christmas Present. There is also a Katharine Hepburn which, as an impression is sublime, but content wise falls a bit flat. These examples also rely on the audience being of a certain age and/or familiar with the source figures.
Balls of Fun
Helen Rice and Sarah Carratt make up Arancini Productions, a sketch comedy duo who have a wonderful chemistry together. In some moments, not only during their performance but often those between sketches while they filled for each other’s costume changes, their connection is not unlike that of French and Saunders.
As with some of the best sketch comedy, costumes play a big part in this show without ever being overbearing, unnecessary, or the source of the laughs, which is testament to the writing and performance skills of Rice and Carratt.
We meet a pair of swimming pool attendants who have clearly had training, but perhaps should have paid a little more attention. The Grim Reaper sings/raps about the modern challenges of his job. A dental receptionist just doing her job inadvertently highlights the dire state of the UK dental health system. A progressive grandmother laments the loss of kudos in the care home lunchroom when her proudly gay grandson turns out to be a mere bisexual. All of these sketches and more are presented with sharp, well observed writing and a clear joy in both Rice and Carratt’s performances.
The sketch comedy is interspersed with some of Rice’s original songs for which she accompanies herself on the accordion. Middle-aged Women at a Festival was especially funny and certainly finds audience members who can identify.
Overall, Balls of Fun is exactly that. It showcases both talents equally, provides laughs-a-plenty, and satires without ever feeling preachy.
Reviewed on 11 July 2026
The Reviews Hub Star Rating
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8
