Tough Old Bird

''What amazing show and what an amazing venue at Thatto Heath Library for a show''

Audience review 2024

The show at Thatto Heath Library on October 5th was a delightful celebration of aging disgracefully, brought to life by the iconic Nana Funk. The audience discovered the joys of not behaving oneself through the heartfelt musical journey of "Tough Old Bird," which explored real-life events with humor and warmth.

Nana Funk, the great-great-grandmother of good times, captivated everyone with her performance. The show humorously challenged society's views on older women, posing big questions like why adverts insist we should "defy the effects of ageing," who decides what is "acceptable behavior," what happens when one becomes invisible, and where the instruction manual is.

Angie Waller, who has been entertaining audiences as Nana Funk since 2013, shone brightly in her role. She starred alongside Claire Jones as Val, who also composed the music for this unique experience. The combination of song, script, and clowning created a captivating and comedic effect that left the audience thoroughly entertained.

A week after the performance, a discussion group led by Angie Waller and Claire Jones delved into the themes and ideas from the show. The insights from this group were then transformed into a unique song by Angie and Claire, which was shared at a later date, adding a personal touch to the entire experience. The show was truly a memorable and uplifting event for all who attended.