From the moment Smita Russell steps into the space, it’s clear we’re in the hands of an exceptional storyteller and presence. For an hour, she holds the room with such intensity that I’m not sure anyone around me drew breath. Set inside the intimate Roxyboxy container at Assembly Roxy, the performance is accompanied (almost as though planned) by the howling remnants of Storm Floris outside. The wind lashes against the walls, adding an eerie, immersive texture to an already deeply captivating experience.

ODDS ARE is difficult to review in detail without giving too much away. Its power lies in the gradual, deliberate unfolding of a true story that feels both personal and universal while being important to witness live. But here’s what I will share, Smita takes us through a series of events in her life – episodes of misfortune, mysterious coincidences and moments that shift between science, myth and mystery. The central thread is anchored in themes of pregnancy, childbirth and the fragility of life, but this isn’t just a story about loss or pain. It’s about how we make sense of unpredictability and what it means to believe the universe owes us something when life deals us a bad hand. 

The themes explored are delicate and at times explicit, but never gratuitous. Smita handles each moment with care and her reflections are layered with wisdom and flashes of humour, giving us just enough lightness to balance the weight of the topics. ODDS ARE is about reclaiming our relationship with misfortune, with Smita asking us to reconsider the notions of luck, fate and the idea of the universe owing us something. A truly extraordinary tale, told in an extraordinary way, ODDS ARE is a show that is definitely worth your while and attention. Check it out at Assembly Roxy until 25th August. Tickets available here.