“Putting together a show for the Edinburgh Fringe is the same as planning a wedding: you’ll spend all your time, money, energy into something you deeply care about that your friends don’t really want to go to. (Of course I’m kidding, my friends are very supportive!)”
WHO: Irene Woo
WHAT: “Until recently, Irene Woo embodied the ‘Golden Child’. As a Senior Software Engineer at Google, she had it all: the six-figure salary, the impressive job title and the unconditional approval of her immigrant parents. But when she turned 28, she quit her job to tell jokes in damp basements. With the unrelenting standards of a Type-A Asian oldest daughter and the messy reality of a human being, Irene explores the golden handcuffs of the tech world, the cultural whiplash of being a French-Chinese woman in America and the baffling logic of modern relationships.”
WHERE: Just The Snifter Room at Just The Tonic at The Mash House (Venue 288)
WHEN: 17:55 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
It’s my third time in Edinburgh! I first went to attend the Fringe last summer as a punter, earlier this year for a wedding, and now to perform my first stand-up hour. In the span of 12 months, I will have gone 3 times. I’m basically Scottish now.
Edfringe is truly so magical. The concentration of talent and the variety of shows is just unmatched. I was only able to go for one day last year and I felt so inspired by how creative artists were. I also appreciated how well-organized Edfringe is, which is a must for a Type-A eldest daughter like myself.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
Putting together a show for the Edinburgh Fringe is the same as planning a wedding: you’ll spend all your time, money, energy into something you deeply care about that your friends don’t really want to go to. (Of course I’m kidding, my friends are very supportive!)
But just like a wedding, plenty of people will offer their unsolicited opinions along the way. The biggest takeway from it all is, just like on your big day, the goal is to have fun.
Tell us about your show.
My show, Golden Child, is about how I decided to quit my software engineering job at Google to pursue stand-up comedy, and how I broke the news to my Chinese dad. I wrote it and Matt Gehring directed it. I performed the show three times in New York as special previews before taking it to Edinburgh. After Edinburgh, I’m hoping to tour the show in Europe, the US, Australia, and Asia.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
They should definitely go see “Bride To Be” by Meg Millane. I got to see it in New York, it’s a hilarious take on the wedding industry, bride culture, and what getting married actually means.
LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!
INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!
Get Your Coats On 