Entering the Hat Trick you can see festoon lighting strewn up and drawing your attention to the stage, a carefully curated playlist of powerhouse black songstresses sets the scene upon entry. The set is laid with a lone freestanding microphone and a white suspended screen.

Black Girl Rising is presented by a single artist sharing some of the most vulnerable moments of their life, the instances when darkness, fear, anger and shame were over time able to give way to let the women before us unabashedly stand in her power, on a path laid by her matriarch and her ancestors. Linnea Tengroth has delivered a performance that is confronting, vulnerable, witty, creative and powerful. She in no uncertain terms invites the audience to sit in their discomfort and open their hearts to experience some of the isolation, bigotry and ignorance that has plagued her becoming.

Sliding seemingly seamlessly between storytelling, spoken word poetry, game show hosting and even a dance break or two Tengroth commands the stage with a presence that feels far bigger than just herself. There is an intensity to her delivery that is absolutely captivating and her movements under the well-executed visuals, lighting and sound transfix the audience. The subject matter feels heavy—and it should, we cannot continually make light of a black history. This is a story of survival and it is a privilege to witness the strength and growth of this powerful black woman.

This might be the most important show you see at Fringe so be thankful you can breathe and de-centre your discomfort so you can truly hear this important story.