Part of Riverside Studios' #BitesizeFestival20204, “How to Kill A Chicken” begins like a dream checklist: take an idyllic #vacay to Costa Rica ✅, meet a sexy surf instructor ✅, bask in the glow of summer romance forever… except (as the slightly sinister title suggests) this trip is not all #paradise…Gigi Tisminetzky’s monologue soon takes a hard left turn, delving into the harrowing experience of 🚨 #triggerwarning 🚨 sexual assault. The result is a riveting performance laced with sharp sociocultural commentary…Tisminetzky is an intimate narrator, tenderly guiding audiences through this fantasy-turned-nightmare. Her easy spontaneity effortlessly blends the storyteller & protagonist, able to hold our attention while greeting a latecomer, or recognising her father in the audience…The narrative thrives on evocative imagery✨ from #Hemingway-style bullfights to depictions of a lush, untamable landscape that reminds us of Jean Rhys’ #WideSargassoSea. Poignant symbolism adds depth to the character dynamics; the brutality of preparing a chicken to eat has us considering relationship dynamics, where sometimes women are the prey…Meanwhile, Laura Reznek’s solo violin accompaniment provides a stripped-back, hauntingly stark musical score🎻 Reminiscent of #Heart (Brixton House Theatre), music & monologue blend to become a distinct dialect, a unique voice that resonates deeply…All that aside, we’re most impressed by the script’s commitment to the messy truth🧐 Our protagonist’s urge to console her rapist is at once infuriating & depressingly real. It’s an HD, light-up, magnified mirror to societal expectations imposed on women to be polite, to self-censor, to “nurture”…As our protagonist declares, “This is my story, but it’s also the story of many women”. And she’s not wrong; How to Kill a Chicken stands as a powerful testament, empowering women to reclaim their stories and cast away shame.