Edinburgh Fringe Chats (#62): Clare Noy, FUNNY THOUGH

9 Jul

As anticipation builds for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025, we’re catching up with a range of exciting creatives preparing to bring their work to the world’s largest arts festival this August. In this series, we delve into the stories behind the shows, the inspiration driving the artists, and what audiences can expect. Today, we’re joined by Clare Noy to chat about their show, Funny Though.

Can you begin by telling us about your show and what inspired it?

Funny Though is a debut genre-blurring solo show in the Pleasance Courtyard that explores the cost of comedy.

I am an actress known for The Play That Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong but now I’m venturing into stand-up. This show is inspired by the whole British comedy scene and traditional self-deprecating humour. Funny Though is about a comedian navigating the pressures of a career where content is king and burnout is the norm. The show offers 60 minutes of chaotic, confessional dramedy — a reckless escalation of bad choices, all for entertainment.

In terms of vibe, it’s sort of like Catherine Cohen giving birth to a baby reindeer.

What made you want to bring this work to the Fringe this year?

Funny Though has been in development for over two years with the support of Omnibus Theatre and Soho Theatre and now feels like the right time to be bringing it to Edinburgh. Societally, I think that turnover in the entertainment industry is at an all-time high, 15 minutes of fame feels like it’s been diminished to 5 seconds, via TikTok. This show explores how this might be affecting us and our mental health and whether it is a sustainable way of living, for the general public and for artists alike.

How much have we all disconnected from each other and do we care?

How would you describe your show in three words?

Bisexual in Crisis.

What do you hope audiences take away from watching your performance?

I hope it leaves audiences thinking about how they engage with the world around them and thinking about the true cost of comedy.

I also hope they like me.

What’s your top tip for surviving the Fringe?

I’ve never been before so I might not be the best to give this advice, if anything I could really do with some tips. I guess eat your vegetables? Try not to get sick? Avoid a mental breakdown? That sort of stuff.

Where and when can people see your show?

Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker 1), 60 Pleasance, Edinburgh, EH8 9TJ2

Wednesday 30th July – Monday 25th August 2025 (excluding 13th and 20th)

15:30 (60 minutes)