Will Pickvance: Wonky

It has become a family tradition to go every year, and what a brilliant way to spend an hour.

Will Pickvance is a very fine musician and storyteller, effortlessly combining the two for our enjoyment. If I didn't have other things booked, I'd go again, just for the joy of it! Don't miss it!

Will Pickvance: Wonky (****)
Pickvance tells of his life playing the piano while giving examples of his expertise. His initial, classical piece demonstrated his virtuosity, and the range and blending of his medleys was impressive. I wish he had fewer songs in his medleys so they could be longer.


This is the 36th most enjoyable of the 125 shows I have seen so far at the Fringe this year. I hope to see more than 150 this year. You may see my other three-sentence reviews, in order from most enjoyable to worst, at my non-commercial website: https://fringefan.com/

Second time we saw Will and he is always entertaining. Love his storytelling. Just a joy to listen to him play the piano.

Will is outstanding - he plays the piano with four disconnected limbs and storytells at the same time - improvising - he invented the word ! very enjoyable - so entertaining

Have seen Will previously. If you want an hour or so of pianistic entertainment and musical explorations then this is for you. Not at all high brow nor pandering to the commonplace.
Not middle of the road either just pure entertainment on the piano. This man can play. Anything. Anything at all!

Piece after piece of top flight improvisational piano woven together with thoughtful heartwarming story telling. Pickvance takes well known music from across multiple genres (never shying away from the tricky ones!), and draws them together with his own wonky brand of harmony and rhythm, all executed with exceptional technical skill on the instrument. The thought behind each pieces is expressed through Pickvance's charming and sometimes surreal on stage persona through a series of extraordinary, but factually accurate vignettes from his own journey as a professional pianist. Excellent show for all ages, and an impressive display no matter your own level on the piano, either as a listener or player.

### Wonky by Will Pickvance: A Piano Prose Theatre

I wouldn't say that Will Pickvance might not be the best pianist or a top-tier composer, but his unique improvisational style makes him one of the most captivating musicians in the theatre scene. "Wonky" is one of Will's most relaxed and personal performances. Today's show, like yesterday's, accidentally ran 20 minutes over the scheduled time. I enjoyed that relaxation.

From his childhood with piano to hustling in London, from playing at an ultra-luxurious private club in the Highlands to now shining on the Fringe and theatre stages, Will narrates his life through the piano. His music weaves together the real-life experiences of a musician and theatre artist, filled with storytelling and vivid imagery. I’d say you could see the image and hear the stories from his music. As he plays and speaks, his rhythm perfectly complements his versatile, improvisational jazz style, portraying the wonky life of a musician and theatre person.

Much like the Forrest Gump quote he references, "Life is like a box of chocolates," Will's music in "Wonky" tells the story of it all, encapsulating the unpredictable and varied experiences of life through his melodies.