Stephanie Laing started performing in April 2007 on the Scottish comedy circuit. She quickly established herself as one of the most promising live acts of her generation, and in 2015 appeared as a finalist in the prestigious Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year competition.
Now a regular on the circuit, Stephanie performs in leading comedy clubs all over the UK and has become a stalwart of comedy festivals across the country. To date Stephanie has appeared at Brighton Fringe, Leicester Comedy Festival, York Comedy Festival, Bath Comedy Festival, Women in Comedy Festival and has appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe every year since 2010. Not content with just performing in the UK, Stephanie has also appeared at UCB New York and The Laugh Factory L.A as well as Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth comedy festivals.
Tell us about your show
It’s a mixture of stand-up and dance, and it’s about bodies, sex, consent, drinking, not drinking, and trying to love yourself even though the world is a bit of a nightmare.
Why comedy and dance?
I’ve been doing stand-up for 17 years (good grief I’m old) but I started re-learning various styles of dance a few years ago, and they’re such a fun mixture for a performance. It makes me feel like a one woman cabaret show.
How does it feel to be returning to the Edinburgh Fringe?
I sort of love doing the fringe, but I’m also filled with dread as soon as I come into the city at the start of the month. I love doing the shows and meeting the audiences, and then I hide for the rest of the time.
Have you got any tips for comedians going up to the festival for the first time?
Stay hydrated and eat vegetables. Also, I keep a bag of mini mars bars in my bag at all times, for me and for random comedians I see crying in alleyways.
Who are the funny women you would recommend seeing in Edinburgh this year?
Robyn Perkins is amazing, see her in Comedy for the Curious and 10,000 Ideas. Also watch me and Robyn in a play called Loose Lips, written by the amazing Lucy Frederick. It’s a re-write of Virgil’s Aeneid and is all about gossip!
Stephanie Laing: 2:50pm Underbelly Wee Coo 31st July – 26th August (not 12th). Book tickets here.
Picture credit: Stephanie Laing.
