Mary O’Connell is conflicted: she hates capitalism but she loves to shop. A hotly anticipated debut show from a blunt and disturbed perspective of observational annoyance and mischief.

The star of Stand Up for Live Comedy (BBC Three), Funny Women runner-up 2020, OnlyFans Creative Fund Winner 2023 and creative resident at Steve Coogan’s Baby Cow Productions considers money, pop culture and trying to be a good person while living in London (if that’s possible), directed by Elf Lyons.

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Would you mind giving us a brief insight into what your show is?

I’m a comedian and writer who’s obsessed with money and my show is called Money Princess. It’s a fun, silly billy take on my all-consuming obsession with money. 

Tell us about the creative team and process involved?

 I’ve been working with the brilliant Elf Lyons as my director. Part of the reason I wanted to work with her is because she’s a clown, and clowning is something that equally thrills and terrifies me. It’s quite introspective doing an hour show, I’ve started to question every decision I’ve ever made because in this show there’s so much interrogating why I am the way I am. Elf set me a lot of homework (I love homework, I was always a good student), She got me to think about songs and scenes in movies that epitomised my weird relationship with money which was a really fun exercise. I’m also being produced by the hard-working folk at Impatient Productions and my wonderful agents at United Agents.

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How does it feel coming to the Fringe?

I’m excited to walk those cobbled streets with the familiar smells (£12 toasties), sights (silent disco marches terrorising mime artists), and sounds (bagpipes battling ‘updated’ Tom Lehrer songs). I’m feeling pumped to perform a show I’m really proud of to audiences all month. And Karaoke at The Flick. Again, all month. It’s my debut so I’m excited for all the new experiences that brings. It’s gonna be my first time with tech – I’ve got lighting cues and soundscapes and everything. And I’ll be at the Pleasance, so it’ll be my first year without having to do a bucket speech at the end. I’ll miss the smell of those coins. 

There are over 3,000 shows at the Fringe. So, what sets your show apart?

A few months ago, I accidentally entered a reality TV programme and ended up winning the world’s prize comedy. And this show, that’s in part about that, was ALREADY called Money Princess BEFORE that happened. Honestly, my manifestation powers are otherworldly. 

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Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will take away?

Merchandise. 

Your ideal audience is in attendance, who’s watching? Or more importantly – who isn’t there…

 I love when the audience is full of a real mixed bag of people, old, young, comedy fans, people who got lost on the way to the loo. It makes it really fun for me when I’m not entirely sure how a crowd is going to receive me.

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It’s an intense month, so where you’re able, how do you plan to relax, and are there any other shows you intend to see or want to recommend?

 I usually go for runs just to clear my head a bit, it’s such an overstimulating time, it can get a bit much. I’m looking forward to seeing my friend Celya AB’s show, Elf’s show Heist, and Lulu Popplewell’s show Actually Actually.

In your ideal world, how can we improve the world of the Fringe, of performance, and the industry?

The fringe and the comedy industry in general are still not as accessible as they need to be. It’s really expensive putting a show on at the fringe which means only certain types of people can afford to go, and people who can’t afford to go but still want to usually end up in debt. There should be more bursaries and subsidies for performers. Even though the fringe is such a massive hub of art and culture, most of the time the artists aren’t the ones who profit from this festival and for it to be sustainable that needs to change. Also it’s a smidge too long. That’s a long time to go without eating vegetables and drinking enough water, as you do at most festivals.

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