THREE new productions at the Edinburgh Festival, from Britain, Australia and Uruguay, allow you to glimpse a particular genre of contemporary theatre — the autobiographical performance — in a global perspective.

Broadly, this kind of work allows the theatre-maker to explore the confessional and therapeutic potential of performance, to lead the audience through a personal experience on behalf of a community, and to speak up for a minority or illuminate a taboo subject.

The personal tone will speak up for the cultural and political situation of the subject and, while it carries the imprimatur of personal authenticity it is by its own nature self-indulgent, narcissistic and exhibitionist.