Familial relationships are tested in multi-award winner Yoz Mensch’s deftly comical, yet deeply affecting one-person show, based on a real-life intergenerational road trip from the South of England all the way up to Northern Scotland. What initially begins as a light-hearted travelogue gradually unfolds into a nuanced exploration of the fragile architecture of love between generations.

At the heart of the show are two strikingly opposed personalities. Grandpa Pete is liberal with swear words, loves a cold beer (or three), avoids public displays of affection, and holds a passionate vendetta against the Beatles. Yoz, in contrast, is gentle and introspective, attuned to life’s subtleties, doesn’t drive, and holds a personal truth they’re unsure they can divulge. These two couldn’t be more different if they tried.

So what happens when they find themselves together on a two-week long car trip… well, definitely not joint sing-alongs to Chappell Roan to Mensch’s disappointment.

Inevitably hilarity ensues, with these counter-personalities clashing at various points along the way, similarly to moments found in famed road trip films like National Lampoon’s Vacation and We’re the Millers. But Mensch pushes past just light-hearted humour, exposing the vulnerable desire for familial love and acceptance, such as in Little Miss Sunshine.

This one-person show has the talented Mensch jump in rapid succession between characters, from their softer self to gruff, grumbly and ocker as f**k Grandpa Pete, alongside a sweet but judgemental English B&B host, an excitable tour guide and an overly-friendly Scottish waitress. The sharp yet seamless transition between the two lead characters is the most impressive, displaying Mensch’s honed performance and clown skills as they embody the characters in both voice and physical presentation. The solo performer’s effortless character embodiment emphasises the many differences between the leading pair, impressively creating tension between two characters that never actually share the stage.

The set is simple; a single chair serves as a car seat and wheely suitcase, with its use as heavy and inconvenient baggage mirroring the weight of the emotional baggage brought along on this family trip.

Mensch continues the world-building by utilising phone-filmed videos taken on their real-life journey by projecting them onto a screen at the back of the stage. These real-life snippets, which show the rolling green English countryside, grand old castles, plaid-filled Scottish B&B interiors and Grandpa Pete nursing plenty of pints, create a visual video diary to complement Mensch’s vocal storytelling.

Family can be tricky, especially when two very different generations find themselves together in the confines of a small car on a BIG road trip. Mensch, though, shows that connection is achievable, even if it’s simply bonding over a mutual love of rich desserts. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll reflect on your own intergenerational relationships – just don’t miss this show at Adelaide Fringe 2026!