Chelsea Birkby is bringing her new stand-up show, Chelsea Birkby Is In Full Control The Entire Time, to the Pleasance Courtyard this August.
It’s her third comedy hour (Winner Amused Moose Best Debut, 2x Nominee Comic’s Choice Best Show, Nominee ISH Awards Best Show) and it’s about free will…or the illusion of it.
See her like you never have before, in full control the entire time. Probably.
Tell us about your comedy style.
After my last preview, my friend’s dad called it “cerebral” and my friend’s friend said it was like “a sub trying to be a dom”, so make of that what you will!
What is your show about?
Control and how you can get it. Self-help guru Tony Robbins says your life is shaped by your decisions, not your conditions. But how do you take control when you can’t trust your decisions? We find out via Machiavelli, Reddit forums and my Uncle Terry.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I used to only value bits that came from the grind of getting the big notebook out, staying up late sat cross-legged on the floor, tapping away on my laptop. But now I trust that ideas don’t have to be forged, they can arrive.
Like, my best ideas seem to be brewed up in the background, arising from a sort of hinterland of pop, philosophy and things my therapist, boyfriend and parents say. I just need to stay sensitive and alert, and remember to write things down!!! (If you’ve seen the David Lynch meme, you know!)
This hour specifically was inspired by a magic show that sent me into a spiral and my Mum’s 90s self help tapes that set me on the path out.
Who are the funny women you would recommend seeing?
I’ve already seen an early version of Celya AB’s show and Amelia Hamilton’s and YES, very different energies but both so assured and so thoughtful. And I’ve seen new material from Ruby Carr, Sarah Roberts, Catriona Dowden and Tamsyn Sarkany that cracked me up so I can’t wait to see those bits in all their glory.
And I’m looking forward to seeing other shows with PPT, which I think includes Olga Koch’s latest (So intriguing, it looks like she’s playing with the form!) and Harriet Richardson’s (I don’t know her, but I like her substack and we have the same top.)
Have you got any tips for going for the first time?
Remember, all there is to risk is humiliation and failure. And debt. But we’ve all survived those already, so now you’re this far, you may as well risk doing exactly what you want. Like enlightened Olympic ice skater Alyssa Liu says: “Every second you’re out there you’re gaining something. There’s nothing to lose.”
You can follow Chelsea Birkby and keep up with her latest work on Instagram.
Tickets and more information can be found here!
