“Though I wish I had picked a slightly cheaper, less [potentially] soul-destroying hobby, like bouldering? there’s nothing quite like the Edinburgh Fringe festival.”
WHO: Rosalie Minnitt
WHAT: “Lady Clementine has until her 27th birthday to find The One. When her latest beau goes missing, she embarks on a hilariously unhinged quest to solve the mystery of her ill fortune. But with neither sense nor sensibility, will our romantic heroine find love in time? Set roughly “in the past”, this is a story about sickly sisters, self-love and Sylvanian Families. Bonnets at the ready, ladies, for the debut character comedy show of the (Scorpio) season. ‘Bridgerton-meets-Gen-Z-Jane-Austen-on-Adderall’ ***** (FringeBiscuit.com). ‘Cheeks ached from laughing’ ***** (Voice Magazine). ‘A comedy star in the making’ ***** (RachelReviewed.com).”
WHERE: Underbelly, Cowgate – Delhi Belly (Venue 61)
WHEN: 14:25 (60 min)
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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
This is my fourth fringe but it’s the first time I’ve ever done a full show for the month on my own which is as obnoxious as it is terrifying. I remember seeing my favourite ever show in Delhi Belly in 2017 so when I got the venue offer through it felt quite serendipitous. Although it doesn’t take much for me to see proof of universal intervention – when I was younger I saw a cloud that looked a bit [not at all] like Napoleon’s hat and decided it was a sure sign from the heavens to study history at university – a famously lucrative career path.
Though I wish I had picked a slightly cheaper, less [potentially] soul-destroying hobby, like bouldering? there’s nothing quite like the Edinburgh Fringe festival. It’s such a specific microcosm where the laws of society don’t work in quite the same way – the audience is judge, jury and executioner and when people talk to you about doing ‘your debut year’, you’re treated like a slightly foolhardy, ill-prepared young prince heading into battle before you’re quite ready. Except your troops consist of just you and the only weapons at your disposal are your supposed ‘wit’, blind faith and the ability to fill the void where the audience should have laughed with lots of pints drunk in quick succession.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
I learned SO MUCH. Doing a ten day work-in-progress run of the show last year taught me some unbelievably valuable lessons about my writing, my performance style, but most importantly, that people become a slightly different version of themselves in Edinburgh. It’s such a special festival, filled with some of the best artists I’ve ever met but, when people have so much riding of their run, both financially and creatively, the pressure can manifest in strange and unexpected ways. All that to say, last year taught me to remain grounded and kind, no matter what’s happening in my day.
It also helped me develop as a performer – especially because I hadn’t really been on stage much during the pandemic years. I learnt how to work the room a bit more, feed off the audience’s energy and, crucially, pick myself up after a tough show. It also made me realise just how important it is to have a really strong community up there – it’s such a rollercoaster and having genuine, kind people you can trust and depend on makes such a huge difference.
Tell us about your show.
I conjured this bizarre character in a kind of lockdown stupor and performed it for the first time last year in April. I’ve been working on it ever since, and taken it to festivals across the UK – tweaking bits each time. I’ve worked with some absolutely brilliant creatives who have helped me bring the whole show to life, none more so than my wonderful director and Clementine world-building in-chief, Tristan Robinson. Most of the show is a joint fever dream/ stream of consciousness that we’ve cobbled together over dms and feverish days trapped in poorly ventilated rehearsal rooms. We’re thrilled and surprised, in equal measure, that people even understand it.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
I have SO many recommendations and gorgeous friends bringing their shows up to Fringe this year. I can’t wait to see @dominicmcgovern’s split bill, Tied for Second at Just The Tonic. I did my first ever comedy show with Dom, he’s such a brilliant comic and this hour of mischief promises to be nothing short of excellent. I’m also super excited to see Maria Telnikoff’s ‘My Dad Wear’s a Dress’. Maria is a wonderful creative and the show is all about navigating a world in which all the dads she knows are men. Abbie Russell is also bringing her character comedy show GUSH up to the fringe. Abbie is one of the most hilarious, witty people I’ve had the joy of meeting and I can’t wait catch her show. Ted Hill is bringing his show, Ted Hill Tries and Fails to Fix Climate Change. He’s a super talented comic and a power point whizz. I saw a twenty minute preview of his show last week and, if that’s anything to go by, this show will be a must-see. Kathy Maniura’s Objectified is also one to watch – she’s effortlessly hysterical both on and off-stage. I can’t wait.
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