{"id":111074,"date":"2026-02-07T18:47:48","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T02:47:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/?p=111074"},"modified":"2026-02-14T23:29:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T07:29:14","slug":"batshit-innovative-dynamic-and-poignant-at-stanford-live","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/batshit-innovative-dynamic-and-poignant-at-stanford-live\/","title":{"rendered":"Batshit – Innovative Dynamic and Poignant – at Stanford Live!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reviewed by Jo Tomalin<\/span>
\nForAllEvents.com<\/span><\/p>\n

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Batshit Solo Show with Leah Shelton (Photo Credit: Brandon Patoc)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Leah Shelton performs Batshit, a one person show, also created by Shelton and directed by Ursula Martinez at The Studio, Bing Concert Hall presented by Stanford Live, Stanford, California, February 4 to February 7 2026. Written by Shelton and Christine Shelton in collaboration with Martinez, Batshit is a dynamic exploration of mental health diagnosis inspired by their grandmother Gwen\u2019s story.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Shelton arrives in a flouncy t<\/span><\/span>urquoise<\/span><\/span> prom dress reminiscent of the 60s then <\/span><\/span>does a <\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>o<\/span><\/span>ng and dance <\/span><\/span>number<\/span><\/span> and tells a joke or two<\/span><\/span>. Throughout the show she creatively transforms several times into both abstract forms and characters as she leads us through a poignant story. <\/span><\/span>We get to know Gwen through Leah <\/span><\/span>as<\/span><\/span> this<\/span><\/span> ethnographic memory album <\/span><\/span>unfolds. <\/span><\/span>Whether she is holding <\/span><\/span>an axe or <\/span><\/span>a microphone <\/span><\/span>Leah<\/span><\/span> is a force of nature!<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

From Perth, Australia, Gwen\u2019s psychiatric reports appear on a screen upstage with searing details questioned by Leah Shelton. How was the population diagnosed? Or misdiagnosed decades ago? And what about these days? \u2028Shelton is a self described psycho-siren with substantial dance and theatrical movement training who successfully melds it with a mission to create \u201cstylized, guttural, renegade feminist work soaked in cult references and dark humo<\/span><\/span>u<\/span><\/span>r.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

What sets Batshit apart is the very creative way that Shelton tells, crafts <\/span><\/span>and performs<\/span><\/span> this story, with <\/span><\/span>a <\/span><\/span>variety of visuals, <\/span><\/span>voiceovers, video, <\/span><\/span>characters <\/span><\/span>and <\/span><\/span>images so that the fifty minute story <\/span><\/span>is<\/span><\/span> entertaining, enlightening and build<\/span><\/span>s <\/span><\/span>to an unexpected moving and joyously innovative final scene.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

There are so many moments that stand out as they flash by! <\/span><\/span>H<\/span><\/span>ighlights are when Shelton is swallowed by the cushions of the chaise in an outstanding physical scene <\/span><\/span>on the <\/span><\/span>Stylish set by Shelton with Freddy Komp, <\/span><\/span>including <\/span><\/span>a retro TV on stage that not only shows <\/span><\/span>fascinating <\/span><\/span>black and white clips <\/span><\/span>of familiar<\/span><\/span> TV shows but also projects the actual audience – <\/span><\/span>plus<\/span><\/span> u<\/span><\/span>nforgettable interviews from past decades of people in the street being asked <\/span><\/span>whether<\/span><\/span> their life is dull! All these <\/span><\/span>elements <\/span><\/span>add up to the deliciously imaginative, visual and physical storytelling imagery Shelton and Martinez create in Batshit.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A program note says that Shelton hopes that this story will resonate with others to tell their own stories on these topics with the goal of improving things. Exiting the theatre, I heard people doing exactly that, which shows th<\/span><\/span>e power of<\/span><\/span> theatre. <\/span><\/span>Make no mistake, we are on a journey \u2013 Leah\u2019s and Gwen’s journey \u2013 where Shelton shares her innovative humor and poignant zaniness to make a point <\/span><\/span>about<\/span><\/span> an important topic, <\/span><\/span>5 Stars!<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

More Information:
\nStanford Live<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Reviewed by Jo Tomalin ForAllEvents.com     Leah Shelton performs Batshit, a one person show, also created by Shelton and directed by Ursula Martinez at The Studio, Bing Concert Hall…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":5,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[1000,1001,1003,738,188,1002],"class_list":{"0":"post-111074","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-jo-tomalin","7":"tag-batshit","8":"tag-leah-shelton","9":"tag-perth","10":"tag-stanford-live","11":"tag-theatre","12":"tag-ursula-martinez"},"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":true,"span_bottom":"