Dee Allum is an award-winning stand-up comedian and writer who took her debut solo stand up show, Deadname, to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2024 to wide critical acclaim, receiving reviews such as: “A story of gender identity told with panache, charm, self-deprecation and copious wit…an inventive, casually ironic storytelling skill…a true stand-up.” The Times.
After Edinburgh, Dee took Deadname to London’s Soho Theatre followed by a tour of the UK in 2025. Dee is taking her second show, Raumdeuter, up to the Edinburgh Festival this summer.
How did you get into comedy?
I started doing sketch comedy (sorry) at university, which I really enjoyed, likely more than the audience. Then the pandemic hit, which of course is most famous for being the time that I came out as transgender. As a direct result of that I got back on stage once lockdown ended, as myself for the first time, and loved it enough to still be doing it now, five years later.
What is your show about?
It’s a show about being in an in-between phase of life, with parents, partner, and most pertinently, the prospect of getting bottom surgery. It takes its name from the footballer Thomas Muller, who called himself a Raumdeuter, meaning ‘space interpreter’, because he floated around generally causing mischief without being entirely one thing or another. This show is about football, so if you like football you’ll love the show, but also it’s not really about football so if you don’t like football you will also love the show.
How does it feel to return to the Fringe?
It feels good/scary/exciting/terrifying. I feel very slightly sick sort of all the time, but in a good way. You’ll know the feeling if you’ve ever done an Edinburgh show yourself, or committed some kind of horrible crime and can feel the police closing in.
Have you got any tips for comedians attending the festival for the first time?
Eat as well as you can! It is so easy to make the quick choice and it adds up, financially and ‘gastrically’. Make a big batch of something at the beginning that you can heat up quickly and will enjoy eating 15 times.
Who are your funny women recommendations?
Too many to name! Abi Clarke, Alex Franklin, Amy Matthews and Amy Webber will all be phenomenal, and that’s just the A’s. Go and watch things! Take a chance! Live a little!
Tickets and more information can be found here!
