Would you mind giving us an insight into what your show/event/performance is?
The Nearly Naked Show is a reclamation of my naked body in all its gory glory, told through alternative comedy, cabaret and drag. It’s like Goosebumps for grownups, it’s weird and silly and confusing and full of reveals and larger than life characters who are all part of the freak show of Fanny Bleach’s mind.
Born from a place of defiance and protest, I wanted to make a show that was entirely mine. I call the shots and I choose how much and how little of myself I give to the audience. In other words, a 55 minute cock tease. Someone once described it as a Mighty Boosh and Leigh Bowery mashup and I think that’s pretty accurate.
Tell us about the creative team and the process involved?
TNNS is created, written and performed by myself and produced by Bighead Comedy. I’ve known Charlie (Mr Big Head) for quite a few years now. He first booked me to do my 1 Tit Wonder character at a Bighead night. It was 30 degrees and in a basement venue, everyone was very tired and I fell over a mic stand. I didn’t know how to end my act so I just walked off to the toilet and sat with my head in my hands crying, my giant breast still strapped to me. I didn’t realise it was the interval and a queue had formed for the bog. I had to emerge and pretend it was all part of it. Somehow he still wants to work with me almost 4 years on.
My sister Freya Wright has been helping me with costumes. We spent two days at her house together sewing eyes to carrier bags and tiny carrier bags to bras. It’s really special to work with her for the first time, even though she can somehow crack on at 7am…we’re very different in that respect.
And Millie (Miz) Barber is my director, they’ve really helped to remind me why this is so important and their never ending faith in the show genuinely makes me feel a bit emotional.
How does it feel coming to (back to) the Fringe?
I first did the Fringe when I was about 19 with my theatre company Your Aunt Fanny, and we went again in 2022. Performing every night with my best mates was pretty magic. We didn’t give a fuck if the audience was quiet because we had each other and could make ourselves crease instead. During our last performance we each tried to get as many alternatives to the word ‘fanny’ in the show. Flaps, minge, foof whatever. I will miss that, it’ll be weird only having myself up there, and I’m not sure it would have the same effect if I tried that on my own.
I’m nervous and I’m excited and I actually have no idea what will happen. Everyone keeps telling me how much I’ll learn about myself doing a one woman show at Fringe and honestly, I think I know too much already. I remember listening to a podcast with Sophie Willan and she was saying she wish she’d given less of a fuck and just enjoyed herself. Wise words, I’m going to try my best to do this.
With shows from all over the world at the Fringe, what sets yours apart?
I’d bet my left tit that no other show involves a femme Geordie drag thing with a scarily realistic giant boob.
Without giving too much away, it’s a show with heart, it’s punk and it may involve glittery genitals.
On that, is there anything in the production or production team’s backgrounds which influences the way the show is performed or told?
The show is almost as if my background in sketch and drag formed some kind of horrid love child that nobody asked for, nevertheless I have time for them and hopefully everybody else does too.
I trained in physical theatre, yes it’s as wanky as it sounds… However it does mean that my physicality when performing as a warlord made of bags for life, is 2nd to none.
My love for circus, freak shows, the uncanny, nostalgic 90’s horror, fairground rides, camp, pleasure for pleasure’s sake and silly costumes makes for a pretty joyous experience and I really want to invite everyone on to the ride. If they’re sound.
Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will take away?
A few loose condoms and a newly found penchant for prawn stars.
Your Ideal audience is in attendance, who’s watching? Or more importantly – who isn’t…?
The gays are watching, the man the show was made in protest of…is not. Or maybe it should be the other way round. Maybe he should be strapped to a chair with his eyes forced open with toothpicks, like that scene in Clockwork Orange, so he has to watch me perform more interesting, more radical and better loved art than him. Maybe he’d learn something, or maybe he’d just be a dick.
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 intend to eat at the original mosque kitchen every single day. I intend to drink wine and slag people off every night with my mate Til who I’m bunking with for the month and I intend to indulge myself in the breakdancing championships which I have been going to since I was 12.
I want to recommend my mate Tilly Fletcher’s show ‘Television’ It’s been a joy watching the show grow. She’s on at The Wee Cow at Underbelly George Square every night at 8.50pm
And I can’t wait to see ‘We are Ian’ by In Bed With My Brother. I’ve been meaning to get to one of their shows in forever and they’re so sound and hilarious I know it’s going to be class.
Fanny Bleach: The Nearly Naked Show will run at Venue 139, Downstairs at Assembly Roxy
Runs: August 5th – August 30th at 21:50pm
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