Self Esteem

How do you sum up a performance that genuinely made you speechless? Rebecca Lucy Taylor has once again proven her spellbinding artistry as Self Esteem by bringing an exclusive five-night run of her highly anticipated third album 'A Complicated Woman' to London’s Duke of York’s theatre.

Feeling somewhat aligned to Arthur Miller’s 'The Crucible' with its pilgrim dress and folkloric chanting, 'A Complicated Woman'’s theatrical production presents Taylor as a creative mastermind, exhibiting the duality and complexity of womanhood with power and relatability. At its core, the show was fresh, polished and rugged around its edges; flawlessly exaggerating the breathtaking talent of Self Esteem, as a woman in her thirties with an abundance of worldly wisdom, presenting to her audience what it means to be a 'complicated woman’. Every costume change, harmony, choreographed dance break and moment on stage was carefully curated to those with a watchful eye.

Keeping audience members on their toes, the production interspersed tracks from 'A Complicated Woman' amongst Self Esteem’s well-loved tracks, such as ‘You Forever’, ‘F**king Wizardry’ and ‘I Do This All The Time’.

'A Complicated Woman' showcased an emotive and realistic depiction of womanhood; although complex and constantly deviating; relies heavily on introspection, rebellion and community. The chemistry between Taylor and her ensemble of vocalists, dancers and instrumentalists brought a sensational dynamic to the production; this vision of community was uplifting for everyone involved.

While ripping off their pilgrim collars to escape the shackles of traditional womanhood and swapping to athleisure to bring an energetic, bold and camp performance of ‘69’, a witty track that poked amusement at the outlandish sex culture that permeates online, it is evident Self Esteem wanted this production to be as light-hearted as it was emotive.

The juxtaposition between tracks on 'A Complicated Woman', from ‘Mother’ to ‘Cheers to Me’ highlighted Taylor’s sonic diversity, which welcomes her audience to think, laugh, cry, sing and dance alongside her.

Further contributions from Moonchild Sanelly and Julie Hesmondhalgh within both ‘In Plain Sight’ and ‘If Not Now, It’s Soon’ were evocative, silencing the theatre to create a goosebump-raising long-lasting moment of hopefulness.

Self Esteem’s 'A Complicated Woman' at the Duke of York’s Theatre excelled in proving Taylor’s extraordinary talents as a performer, artist and visionary. A production which amalgamated the concert and theatrical experience whilst being innovative and futuristic, yet uncannily relevant within a modern age. Self Esteem is making waves for how every artist should manoeuvre within the upcoming release of their music.