Hissteria - Summer Nights

Reviewed by Hannah Goodman

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Hissterier is a dance and physical theatre performance part of The Blue Room Theatre’s Summer Nights and Fringe World’s 2026 season. This show follows two women as they navigate their day-to-day lives, but with an added obstacle – being cat-obsessed. In a world where the term “cat-lady” is often preceded by the word “crazy”, and talking a little too much about feline friends can attract serious side-eye from some, Hissterier questions whether this historically feminine typecasting is justified.

The show commenced with Kailyn Tang (choreographer/performer) putting on her “face” – the audience on other side of her vanity mirror, watching a slow transformation into the porcelain doll-like character she would assume for the day.  But not all was as it seemed, as her delicate application of makeup was interrupted with sudden jolts, smearing and distorting her cosmetics, which, combined with expressions that reminded me of some scenes from Alice in Not So Wonderland, created a haunting and unsettling picture. This concept of being a fragile and controllable individual was carried throughout the 45 minutes of Hissterier; Kailyn soon accompanied by the second choreographer/performer, Amelia La Pira for a pas de deux (or pas de chat?) that continued for the remainder of the performance. 

A shrine to felines quietly stood in the back corner of the stage, perhaps representing the stereotype of obsession lingering in the back of some people’s minds. It looked very intricate, and I wished there was a bit more interaction with this shrine by the performers.  

The duo used the space of the stage well, and both mastered the Coppélia-esque choreography of staying frozen in some challenging positions.  The climax of the show saw the duo move from a seemingly peaceful meditative scene, a kind of “Simon Says” comprising instructions from a disembodied male voice that slowly escalated into a visible loss of control and sense of self. The repetitive movements and soundscape felt like some sort of beep test, but was instead testing the endurance of a façade many women create to appear “normal” until their breaking point. I felt like I was struggling with the performers without moving a muscle; the lighting and music (Jake Battle, Hamish Tambling) really elevated this flurry of a scene. 

There is only one more show of Hissterier for Fringe World 2026, offering a chance to “paws and reflect” on the gendered expectations surrounding a stereotype that probably doesn’t get much time on the stage. If you’re looking for a show that tackles this through dance in under an hour, this may just be your cup of tea. 

Reviewer Note: Tickets for this review were provided by the production company.