Esther Manito is bringing her brilliant debut hour Crusade to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the show addresses identity, labels and expectations. We caught up with Esther to talk about her show, performing at the Dubai Opera House and why she’s going grey…
Funny Women: Tell us about your show Crusade
Esther Manito: Oh my God! I have poured my heart into this show, it’s been the most cathartic – and stressful – thing I have ever done. It’s about not being able to live up to expectations of identity labels; wife, mother, Arab, British, Muslim
FW: Given that Crusade was inspired by some unpleasant audience encounters, has the show met with a more positive reception?
EM: Yes! It’s been a dream reaction. I have done the show all over the UK and in some areas where there is a very ‘anti-immigration’ feel. However, the show is about seeing people as human and not assigning any labels. Just listen and you may find that just because someone has a certain ethnic background, or gender, or family role does not mean you can assume their beliefs and behaviors. It was great to see audiences so resistant to a female comedian, an Arab female comedian, an Arab female comedian talking motherhood…. by the end nodding along and smiling. I would walk away thinking “hopefully just one or two saw a normalized view of motherhood, Middle Eastern and British and proud!”
FW: Having appeared in comedy competition finals and shared an hour, you’re now performing your debut Edinburgh show, how does it feel?
EM: Well I am going grey and I can’t sleep with anxiety… if I don’t make it though please remember me fondly Funny Women!
FW: You were the first woman comedian to perform at the Dubai Opera House, did you enjoy having such a huge audience?
EM: LOVED IT! And hopefully I will get to go back, it was pure joy seeing Arab women laughing hard at jokes which were demonized as too “shocking” for a Muslim. Nope screw that, women are women and mums are mums and it doesn’t matter where you are in the world we are united in how much we battle with our bodies, our marriages and kids!
FW: Which funny women are you hoping to see at the Fringe this year?
EM: Róisín and Chiara: Get Nupty
Sukh Ojla: For Sukh Sake
Jen Brister: Under Privilege
Tiff Stevenson: Mother
Katie Pritchard: Storm Stud
Esther Manito’s debut stand up show Crusade will be at the Gilded Balloon Turret at 4pm daily from 31st July – 25th August for tickets click here!
