REVIEW: Milk Presents: Self Service

<p>Milk Presents: Self Service is a series of episodes that will explore the notion of que..oh..erm..quee..no it’s a kind of queh...oh wait a minute...Queer.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thegayuk.com/ChrisBridges">by Chris Bridges</a> | 27th July 2014</p><p></p><p>★★★★★</p> <p><img src="http://www.thegayuk.com/communities/8/004/009/928/388/images/4612420956.jpg" width="460" height="460" alt="" title=""/></p> <p></p><p>Milk Presents take a wild stab at defining the indefinable in Self Service, a show that spans decades of popular culture, political upheaval and quaint normalness. This show episodically and sporadically leads the audience on a punk style journey through queer in an attempt to see what ‘normal’ really is when it comes to gender, sexuality and beyond. Self Service calls into question the way we live our lives and things we take for granted. This is a show for anyone who wants to do things their way.</p><p></p><p> With original live music, hand crafted animation and tacky politics; Milk Presents brings you more of their uniquely low-fi, raucous performance. From Ann Widdecombe’s crusade to protect marriage to influences from the Beatnik generation, this show wears high heels a size too small and sunglasses a size too big.</p><p></p><p>I was apprehensive about seeing this show, wondering if it would be too inaccessible and Avant-garde for me. I’m not sure if was the berets that made me nervous. Luckily, I was more than pleasantly surprised. Milk Presents are a warm and witty ensemble that have taken a concept and made it so much more than a dull meditation on a theme. The show is a very funny, thought provoking and entertaining hour of comedy, song and animation. The time flew by and I was really sorry when the show ended. The combination of vox-pop, cultural and socio-political references and personal experience blended seamlessly and made for a brilliant show. I’d definitely recommend keeping an eye out for Milk Presents. You won’t regret an hour in their company. I left the venue feeling like I ought to become a queer activist. It was quite hot though, so I went for an ice cream and a lie down instead. I’ll keep it in mind though. </p><p></p><p>I was lucky enough to catch an <a href="http://thegayuk.com/magazine/4574334751/tags/EdinburghFringe">Edinburgh Fringe</a> preview at the gorgeous dance and theatre venue, The Place, near King’s Cross. Well worth checking out their program of events. </p><p></p><p>Milk Presents Self service runs at The Edinburgh Fringe from 2nd to the 23rd of August 2014. </p><p>Buy tickets here: <a href="https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/milk-presents-self-service">https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/milk-presents-self-service</a></p><p></p><p>Read about Milk Presents here: <a href="http://milkpresents.com/">http://milkpresents.com/</a></p><p>Look what’s on at The Place here: <a href="http://www.theplace.org.uk/">http://www.theplace.org.uk/</a></p><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> </p>