Ben Powell
Written by and starring Julia VanderVeen, DENTATA describes itself as a wild, theatrical unravelling… and this is a remarkably fitting description.
We join Beth-Ann as she prepares for her third, and hopefully final, attempt at snatching the local pageant crown – her journey takes us through some of history’s most notable portrayals of womankind – the Gorgon Medusa, the Three Witches of Macbeth, the Sirens of the Odyssey – as she, and we, are forced to examine the collective picture these stories have painted.
The show progresses with increasingly elaborate set-ups and scenarios (and puppets!!), echoing the increasing expectations put upon the modern woman whilst handily skewering the very stories and beliefs that built them. In Beth-Ann, VanderVeen has created a beautifully tragicomic sweetheart, winning over the audience in moments and then hitting us with the heart-breaking reality of her lonely, desperate pursuit of winning a pageant crown being enough to earn her family’s care and attention.
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into DENTATA but, from the off, I was entirely taken in by VanderVeen’s confidence and audience control. Even in these most sympathetic moments, she seems to delight in provoking the audience, be it with a turn of phrase or a deadly side-eye. I’ve read recently that a core aim of clowning can be to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable and, at this, VanderVeen is a master of flirtatious, furious menace, leaning into discomfort just enough to balance squirming and laughter in equal measure.
DENTATA is a feminist scream in a red nose; bouffon brilliance in a baby-doll dress. It is hilarious, poignant, painful and magical all in one. It’s the perfect example of how to catch more flies with honey than vinegar… if honey is laughter and the flies are fucking men! I did not stop giggling from start to finish and, I loved it so much, that I went back the following night!
Recommended Drink: Salt, tequila, lime – it’s got a bit of everything, hits hard and leaves you with a good buzz.
Performances of DENTATA have now concluded at Colchester Fringe 2026.
Minttu-Maaria Makkonen
Será Será Theatre
