Female form and force I AM WOMAN is an emphatic and spectacular collective statement, involving many voices, using a variety of forms and media.

Music - mainly meaningful songs - and dance are the main ingredients of the Fringe show, successfully returning to woo enthusiastic audiences. There is also one acrobatic number, that elicits repeated applause for the daring and difficult moves. In addition, we hear voices that share relevant texts, authored by some of the numerous performers. At times voices are broadcast in the dark, but more often they present, illustrate and comment the scenes with live performers and/or images on the screen.

There is a 'story' regarding successive phases of 'womanity' as well as women's life. The program "showcases 8 Feminine Archetypes" with associated labels, sometimes deliberately offensive but in some cases potentially ripe for adoption and celebration. Visual and verbal components may occasionally present some challenge or provocation, which highlight the difficulty of the subject - the long path to equality, across and within gender groups or divides.

Staging and costumes vary in scale and style, and audiences have a chance to appreciate the individual personalities of performers. Although women are likely to be the majority of people watching, and may recognise more and more of the scenes and lessons, the show's relevance to humanity can be appreciated by all genders and ages.

It is fascinating to mentally overlap the images and moves of this 'philosophical' show with those more familiar within Fringe, as there is only one item of clothing removed on stage, unlike the many layers stripped in burlesque. Yet most costumes are elegantly skimpy, sparkling and revealing, generally black, with marked changes toward everyday clothing when life events and stages are presented.

The schoolyard scene, with the newcomer snubbed by the clique, looked realistic in its stylisation, and reinforced the message of solidarity and sisterhood as vital to all. I AM WOMAN shows lots of work involving lots of feisty artists, and offers engaging entertainment for everyone.