It is festival season and that means that in the next month there is so many great comedy festivals to look forward to! This month we are looking at some of the great shows that you can see at the Edinburgh Fringe. So take note because we are going to give you all the information you need for just a handful of some of the great shows happening this year!

Sarah Roberts: Silkworm

Location:   Assembly George Square – The Box (Venue 8)

Dates: Jul 31st Aug 1st-13th, 15th-25th

Time: 22:35

Price: £10.50 Concessions £9.50

Ticket Link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/sarah-roberts-silkworm

Hello! Tell us about yourself?

I’m the world’s youngest, smallest, most normal comedian. Don’t look that up.

Tell us all about your show!

Silkworm is my debut stand up hour and it’s about the stories we tell ourselves (and everyone else) about who we are. When I was younger I got double jaw surgery to ‘correct’ a ‘facial deformity’, the show reflects on that experience, and how it feels to be told every day you’re facially deformed (spoiler! Not good!) It’s also about a surprising ancestry DNA test, finding out I was queer at 30, and being really really scarily good at Candy Crush. It’s my big coming out show, and I’m coming out as hot and talented. It’s got a lot of disgusting salacious stories in it too. 

How did you come up with the name of your show that you’re taking to the fringe?

My friend Bebe helped me come up with the name, Silkworm. When it was in work in progress stage it was called Worm In Progress, and I wanted something along the same theme for the full show. And I realised silkworms were a perfect analogy. They’re not even worms, they’re actually moths. And the show is about waiting in the wings of your life to become the perfect version of yourself before you feel ready to get out on stage and start being alive. I always felt like I was in a cocoon waiting to become a beautiful moth. But I’ve actually been one all along. 

What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at the fringe?

Omg so many. It’s really a girl supremacy at Fringe this year, and there are so many shows from incredible women I can’t wait to see. I’m so excited for my friend Bebe Cave’s show, which I saw at its first preview and it was amazing then, so I can’t wait to see what it will be like by Fringe.

I’m also in love with Kiran Saggu, who’s debuting this year, and Bella Hull, who’s taking up her new show Piggie. Rosalie Minnit is bringing back Clementine for a short run and it was my favourite show of Fringe last year. I’ve seen it 3 times already and am hoping to see it 3 times more. Other debuts I’m so excited for are Amy Mason, Alfie Packham, Will Owen, Katie Norris, Rich Spalding, Dee Allum, Lou Taylor and Joe Kent-Walters. My all-time fave Dominic McGovern is bringing up a work in progress for a limited run and I also can’t wait to see Chelsea Birkby and John Tothill’s new shows. They’re always perfect.

Have you done the fringe before? What are the key pieces of advice you have been given or would give to new groups or people performing at the fringe.

I came up for the first time in 2022 with my friend Kiran Saggu. We did a split bill together at Just the Tonic, it was called Cake, and we started every show by giving a cake to the audience member with the worst reason to celebrate. It was so fun and we got so many good contenders; someone snogged a clown and caught a stomach bug from them, lots of people had just been dumped. 

My key piece of advice would be, try to forget about industry stuff, and selling out your show. Obviously from a financial perspective it’s not ideal if there’s only two people in, but it’s not a fail. Don’t panic, you can still have a great show with a small audience.

Talk us through your daily routine for a day at the Fringe

Wake up. Google myself.  Cry. Eat poutine. Laugh. Do my show. Cry. Watch a show. Laugh. Eat poutine. Have 100 drinks. Cry. Tell someone I’ve just met a dark, deeply personal secret. Make them cry.

What is the best way to enjoy yourself at the fringe?

See lots of shows! And lots of varied stuff. There’s so many incredible clowns at Fringe and I love watching them because they’re doing something so different from me so it’s the perfect way to get out of my own head. I’d really recommend going to see Siblings and Paulina Lenior if you want to be transported to another world.

Ok, where is your favourite place to eat at the Fringe?

Noodles and Dumplings. 

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

Attention!!!!!!!!!!

Top tips for travelling around the Fringe and getting to shows on time?

Everything is thankfully really close so you can walk most places, but also give yourself lots of time to get between shows. Turning up late (I found out cos I kept doing it) and interrupting shows is actually really annoying. And embarrassing 🙂

What would be your top three items every performer must take to the fringe?

A full heart, an open mind and an adventurous spirit.

What’s the secret to successful flyering?

I am so bad at flyering. My secret is to pay someone better to do it. 

If people want to find out more about you where can they follow you on social media?

Instagram! sarahroberts_69 

And Finally in three words – Why should people come and see the show?

We’ll all kiss.