Sultry, Silly, and Sharply Observed: Meet the Voice Behind Per-Verse

Meet Georgie Wedge: the comedy-poet hybrid turning romantic misadventures into side-splitting, spoken-word gold, one pun at a time. She chats to Hinton about transforming dodgy dates into punchlines, the feminist power of a well-timed rhyme, and why she proudly claims the title of Best Kisser in North London.

Hi Georgie, can you tell us about your show Per-Verse at Riverside Studios? It’s based on your own experiences, right?

Hi - absolutely! Per-Verse came out of comedy poetry pieces I had written about personal dating experiences, which I performed at events in London. The show then developed into a blend of the poetry, with storytelling and physical comedy. Whilst navigating a “typical” date night, I immerse the audience in some colourful flashbacks of “ghosts of dating past” as I move through the evening’s phases and spaces (the bar, the taxi, the flat). It’s a very sensory, sultry and silly window into city dating.

Was it ever hard to share certain stories, or do you find it liberating?

There are moments where it can feel slightly awkward or embarrassing, especially if I know there are family or colleagues in the audience! But I think the poetry element really helps, as it heightens the theatricality of it and makes me lean into an exaggerated version of myself, though it is still deeply personal. I do find it liberating, for sure.

Have you always been drawn to comedy, or was there a moment when you realized, “Oh, I’m actually funny”?

I’ve always loved comedy and thought of myself as quite funny in general day-to-day interactions with friends, but I didn’t in a performance sense for a long time. It’s for sure been a confidence thing as I always liked playing funny characters when I acted, but putting your own thoughts out there and wanting them to be received as funny is more exposing. I’m a real sucker for a pun and dad joke, so the moment probably came from seeing people groan and come to expect that brand of humour from me – which I found quite hilarious. So, maybe this show and writing more comedic material is just one big way to annoy my mates more!

What was the very first piece of poetry or comedy that made it into Per-Verse?

This poem called ‘Men Can’t Kiss’. It was the first comedy poetry piece I wrote and the one I originally started testing at open mics and spoken word nights. Because it always got a positive reaction, it was what sparked the idea for making a show that blended poetry with other performance styles. The piece also paints a picture of being on a date at a bar, so in a way, it was a mini Per-Verse before Per-Verse.

Do you think dating apps have made modern romance better or worse?

Oh gosh, that depends on the day of the week! It’s hard to separate dating apps from modern romance, as it’s been the main means of dating for me over the past years. There’s so many pros and cons for them, but they’ve definitely changed our approach to romance and gamified it more than ever. I think the thrill of a successful romantic meeting “in the wild” is better now because of dating apps, though. I know so many successes from dating apps, so there must be something in it – it’s made my stories juicier that’s for sure!

The show is described as fiercely feminist; how do you see comedy and spoken word contributing to conversations around gender and relationships?

Both being really engaging forms of performance can carry lots of weight when you’re talking about those kind of subjects. There’s something about spoken word that can lock you into a story in a different way – I think you lean in a bit more and you’re taken in by the rhythm and the way words are used. It’s a means of reframing conversations. With comedy, being a bit punchier and really relating to the audience creates a quite intimate relationship. Both can be quite vulnerable, whilst being about owning your narrative in the way you find empowering.

What’s the one thing you hope audiences take away from Per-Verse, besides a reminder to delete their ex’s number?  

I want them to have a really fun time most of all! If they can take away a laugh and a smile, that’s my job done. Hopefully they also take a sense of liberation in dating and an embracing of cringeyness. Aside from the dating elements, it’s also about how we share our stories and identities – that you can keep discovering the facets of them, but also take some shelter when they can get overwhelming. Most importantly, they should take away that I know my stuff when it comes to kissing and deserve the title of Best Kisser in North London.

Per-Verse is at the Riverside Studios in London from 3rd- 19th April 2025. For more information and to book tickets, click here: https://riversidestudios.co.uk/see-and-do/per-verse-160739/