Bedfringe 2026 Interview: Avoid Excessive Cleavage (and Other Advice to Ignore)

Posted in *Written Interviews, Bedfringe 2026 by

cover

“I work hard, knock on doors and try to put myself forward, whilst simultaneously battling crippling imposter syndrome and a world determined to make anyone over 40 feel like they’ve had their chance!”

WHO: Jules O’Brian

WHAT: “Avoid Excessive Cleavage (and Other Advice to Ignore) is a warm, witty stand-up show about ageing, expectations, and the endless stream of “helpful” advice we’re all supposed to follow as we get older.

Now in her fifties, Jules O’Brian finds herself on the receiving end of guidance she never asked for: what to wear, how to behave, how to age gracefully, and which inspirational quotes she should apparently be living by. From well-meaning strangers to glossy headlines and social media wisdom, everyone seems keen to explain how life should be done. Jules has had enough.

“Razor-sharp observations – Jules has it all: intelligence, wit, and utterly hilarious.” JO ENRIGHT

With sharp observational comedy and a quietly rebellious edge, she dismantles the rules, clichés and motivational nonsense that clutter modern life. Expect big laughs, moments of recognition, and a quietly rebellious take on the rules we’re all expected to follow.”

WHERE: Quarry Theatre

WHEN: 25 July 2026 @ 13:00 (50mins)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Bedfringe?

It is, but I’ve gigged in and around Bedford a lot, and always have a lovely time with the audiences. I work with Castle Comedy quite a bit and their Bedford shows are always fab.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

The past couple of years have been a bit of a whirlwind. You know how, when things are actually happening, you just take them in your stride and crack on – then you look back and go, “Ooh that was quite a time, wasn’t it?!” Well…that. Like anyone else who wants to do well, I work hard, knock on doors and try to put myself forward, whilst simultaneously battling crippling imposter syndrome and a world determined to make anyone over 40 feel like they’ve had their chance! But I was 52 in 2024, and that’s when things started to happen. I was flown out to Switzerland to perform over there, I got booked to do Altitude Festival in Austria, my show really started to come together, regular appearances on BBC radio started back then, and I’m travelling all over the country all the time! (My little Hyundai i10 is small but mighty – she’s seen my breakdowns at 1am when there are motorways closures but no diversion signs or map updates… I shudder just thinking about it!)

Tell us about your show.

So my show is called “Avoid Excessive Cleavage (and other advice to ignore).” Once I turned 40 – and I think this is happening to women even younger now – I started getting bombarded by advice I’d never asked for about how I should be aging: mostly, it boils down to DO NOT AGE! However, if you must age, stick a big paper bag over your head so we don’t have to see your wrinkles, laughter lines, droopy knees…the list is endless.

The title comes from a genuine piece of advice in one of those articles, “Avoid excessive cleavage; just wear a nice blouse.” So patronising! So I wrote a show about how much I hate the anti-aging industry, even though I buy into it a lot of the time.

I don’t have any answers and I’m definitely not telling anyone how they should choose to age! I just have fun with the whole thing, instead of driving myself mad.

My absolute hero Elizabeth Hurley makes an appearance (in cardboard cutout form), and I just have a right old laugh with the audience about how bonkers some of the advice we get given actually is. “Hide laughter lines”? Yeah…god forbid anyone knows you’ve been enjoying yourself!

What should your audience see at Bedfringe after they’ve seen your show?

Hasan Al-Habib is also in The Quarry Theatre Studio with his show “Stuck in the Middle (East) With You.” He’s very funny, very clever, and very much deserves a full house.

Pat Monahan, again, 23rd July in The Quarry Theatre Studio. I just love Pat. Audiences adore him. It’s impossible not to have a good time when he’s on stage. And he makes it look effortless – like he’s just messing about. Actually, I hate him. What am I talking about? It’s not fair that some people are just so damned good at comedy!

And on 26th July you’ve got the Best of Castle Comedy: Angela Barnes, Laura Smyth and Josh Pugh. All of them disgracefully good at comedy. Definitely go. I’m not at all offended that it’s “The best of Castle Comedy” and I gig for them a lot, and I even mentioned them in this interview, and I’m not on their list. No, really, I’m fine. It’s fine!

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!