Downstairs in The Canvas, London’s ‘happy’ cafe, around a dozen people are semi naked, playing with make up, singing out loud, and dancing with abandon in their underwear. This is the beginning of One Size Fits All, a new show devised by MA students from Central School of Speech and Drama in conjunction with Body Gossip, an organisation that campaigns through arts and education with the aim ‘to empower every body to be the best version of themselves and rock their own brand of gorgeous.’
Through monologues, tender portrayals of confessions, thrilling dances and even an in promptu ‘love your body’ workout this a performance about embracing the aspects of our bodies that we forget, the scars, the strength, the energy and the actions. The prevalence with which media and society scrutinises and criticises our bodies has created a culture where the body is punished and damaged, not praised and loved. And that’s not a healthy place to be.
Body Gossip the tools works with schools and organisations to help young people navigate the worlds of internet, media, fashion and beauty on their own terms, accepting them for what they are, and revelling in what their bodies can do and being excited about the lives that they enable them to live. The laughter, tears and lumps in the throat poignancy that One Size Fits All provides is a powerful and entertaining communication of the brilliance of the body, the many layers of beauty, and the thrill of being alive.