Gateau has both an extraordinary story to tell and an extraordinary presence. His face is part care bear, part baby doll and the delivery is similarly innocence meets coquettish queen. The staging is a simple switch between Gateau the performer on stage, and George the man in the dressing room and while his autobiography is thinly sketched backstage, the onstage moments make it up for it with fun, frolics and touching tears of the clown. Gateau discloses that he regularly turns down Britain’s Got Talent – a wise move, surely – which leads to a skit on Susan Boyle. But it doesn’t stop him do a starry, heartfelt turn on I Have A Dream, showing Gateau’s way with going between light and shade.
Gateau’s gift is to turn the elements of himself that proved challenging in his past – being black, queer and fat – into sources of joy and comfort. Often in this one act show, the best moments are found in Gateau’s very presence and a face, which hackneyed as it sounds, that really does light up a room.
Le Gateau Chocolat is at Menier Chocolate Factory until 26 August.
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