The coolest female comics you need to see at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe
Edinburgh. Home to the battered sausage… and a little known annual arts festival. Yep, every year for three weeks in August, thousands of performers descend on The Edinburgh Fringe Festival to try and make us laugh. And it can make, or break, their careers.
Ranging from high profile acts to up and comers, this year’s Fringe – which launched the careers of Emma Thompson and Sarah Millican back in the day – will more importantly showcase the country’s funniest female comedians. Here are the five to check out…
Aisling Bea
On stage: Not content with being only the second woman ever to win the prestigious So You Think You’re Funny award at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Bea is hoping to try her luck again, returning to the Fringe for a brand new show, Plan Bea. The young comic spins tales of her Irish upbringing, exploring childhood dreams, death, confidence and success, all with her trademark wit.
On Twitter: @WeeMissBea ‘I've just been on a packed rush hour tube in 36 degree heat. If I'm not pregnant now, I never will be.’
Plan Bea is at the Gilded Balloon from 8th to 30th August
Lolly Adefope
On stage: Having only made her comic debut last year, Lolly seems set to make a splash with her eponymous first Edinburgh show. Using her deep-rooted insecurities as fodder, Lolly’s character comedy has already netted her a Leicester Mercury New Comedian of the Year nomination. Looks like Lolly’s set to be 2015 Fringe’s newest star…
On Twitter: @lollyadefope ‘When I go on tinder dates I only speak in Parseltongue’.
Lolly is at Pleasance Courtyard 8th to 31st August
Jessie Cave
On stage: Better known for breaking little girl’s hearts everywhere after playing Rupert Grint’s love interest in Harry Potter, Jessie’s found life after Hogwarts at Edinburgh. With her comedy debut in 2012, Jessie returns to Fringe with her new show, I Loved Her. When she’s not mixing character comedy with brutally honest observations, Jessie’s work in fiction, television and film more than take her out of J.K. Rowling’s shadow.
On Twitter: @pindippycave ‘Can't wait to start a new week of overthinking and underachieving. Night everybody.’
Jessie heads to Underbelly (Venue 61) from 6th to 30th August
Harriet Kemsley
On stage: In her anticipated debut show, Puppy Fat, Harriet Kemsley is quite literally a hot mess. From a crippling anxiety disorder, to an overactive imagination to her obsession with the news, Harriet thinks everyone’s out to kill her – or at least ruin her day. Harriet looks set to take Fringe by storm, already receiving critical acclaim and awards recognition around the country.
On Twitter: @harrietkemsley ‘Spent the morning screaming A RAT A RAT GO AWAY RAT at what has turned out to be the wind.’
Puppy Fat is at Pleasance Courtyard from 8th to 31st August
Massive Dad
On stage: Where else are you going to see a killer trio of girls on stage with a raucous sketch show? Made up of Tessa Coates, Stevie Martin and Liz Smith, the girls burst onto the scene last year that there debut show. They’re also developing a project with Monkey Kingdom – better known as the makers of Made in Chelsea.
On Twitter: @MassiveDad ‘In today's writing session we learnt that in the nineteenth century sausages were known as Bags o' Mystery.’
Massive Dad 2.0: Step Up 2 is at the Pleasance Dome from 8th to 31st August