My Festival: Felicity Ward

There are thousands of shows in Edinburgh this month. Please tell us why we should come and see yours.

Because I am a single mother willing to prey on your sense of sympathy. Aside from that, it’s big laffs on dating like a 20-year-old when you’re single for the first time in 13 years in your forties, discovering your sexuality, and then doing Dancing with the Stars (Australia). It’s about learning when you hate learning.

What will we learn from your show that we didn’t know before?

As always, my hope and dream is that an audience leaves my shows dumber than they entered.

Who or what was the biggest inspiration for your show?

Getting divorced, dating more people (of every gender) than I ever have in my life, and going on Dancing With The Stars Australia (Australian Strictly). 2025 was EYE OPENING.

What’s the best review you’ve ever had, and the worst?

BEST: “I dislocated my jaw laughing at your show. I’m in hospital.”.

WORST: First review I ever got in Edinburgh Fringe - “I have to be honest I hated this show.” It was from The Scotsman. LOLOLOL

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Who or what are you most excited about seeing this year?

This is corny but I’m just excited to be at the Fringe. I haven’t done a show or attended in eight years and coming back to this city is always like falling back in love again with an ex you thought you got over. But I am PUMPED to see Freya Parker’s Hour of Decay (making my directorial debut), Frankie McNair’s Big Ass Mindset (the first 15 minutes are some of the most edgy stand up I’ve seen in a decade), and of course one of my bezzies and winner of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Celia Pacquola. It is an hour of clockwork perfect stand up. Jokes from start to finish. Perfectly crafted, effortlessly delivered.

Who do you most like spending time with in Edinburgh?

I like DJing because I get to see all of my friends, play my favourite music, have short fun conversations with people I like, and not have to engage in small talk with people I don’t. Truly the dream situation. (I’m DJing at Late’nLive at Gilded Balloon)

Tell us something about you that would surprise people.

My party trick is that I can do a really good spray bottle noise. This seems really lame to write down on paper, but judging by the in-person reactions, sometimes I feel like Derren Brown.

What are the best and worst things that have happened to you at a festival?

BEST: I got 400 people in a crowd to sing Frere Jacques in the round, as chickens.

WORST: Shat myself on stage. Didn’t know it had happened. To answer your question: it was more than a skid mark less than a loaf. My apologies.

What’s the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do at night?

In Edinburgh or in general? The answer to both is to check my phone. I’m a very unwell woman.

Thanks for the interview! We’d like to buy you a drink. Where are we going and what are we drinking?

Black Medicine Cafe for an Oat Latte. Long time sober for this guy, so coffee and cigarettes are all I have.

Felicity Ward: I Wish I Could Come Out Of My Shell is at CabVol1 at Monkey Barrel Comedy, 3.50pm, 17-31 August

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