For the first time since her Edinburgh Comedy Award nomination in 2018, one of the Fringe’s most loved and critically acclaimed comics, Felicity Ward, is finally back at the Fringe. Following her recent divorce and doing Dancing With The Stars in Australia, Felicity is back in the game more than she’s ever been before.
That’s right kids, this show is about sexual liberation, the chokehold of the foxtrot and the best year of her life! Dating men, dating women, dating most of London… Felicity finds the humour as only she can in the identity crises of millennial men, the lies we were told about being undesirable after 40, and how Dancing With The Stars rewired her brain and temporarily cured her mental illness. This is a celebration of life over that hill and her most joyful show to date.
What is your show about?
I suppose it’s about how I hate learning to do new things and despite that, managed to in 2025. How I had my first really happy year in London in over a decade. About how I thought women who are single mums, or divorced, or over 40 were supposed to be undesirable (turns out that is very wrong). About how to cure a mental illness. HAHAHAHA.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Anywhere I can quite frankly. Got divorced, single mum for the first time, started going to the gym, started smoking again, did Dancing with the Stars Australia, went on dating apps for the first time, and realised I was bisexual at 41. It’s. All. Happening.
How does it feel to be returning to the Edinburgh Fringe?
I’m absolutely pumped to be honest. The last time I did Fringe was in 2018. I had the time of my life; lived with mates, loved my show, got nominated 8 festivals in. Then I fell pregnant the next year. Then Covid hit. And then here we are! I’m very excited to be back in Edinburgh as a city too, because it is in my top three of anywhere in the world, and Scottish people are my favourite people. On top of that, I’m directing my first show: Freya Parker’s An Hour Of Decay. So that’s pretty exciting too.
Who are the funny women you would recommend seeing at the Edinburgh Fringe this year?
Sorry to be a lil Antipodean but you have to see Celia Pacquola (who won the Melbourne Comedy Festival Best Show Award this year). It is honestly just a perfect hour of straight stand up comedy.
And for one of the most punk stand up shows I’ve seen in a decade, I would very very recommend Frankie McNair’s Fat Ass Mindset. I laughed at jokes I have never even heard attempts at.
And for just perfect storytelling and structure see Claire Hooper.
And of course, Freya Parker. Because she’s hilarious, and weird, and silly, and also selfishly, because I’m directing it.
What else have you been working on?
I have a Netflix animation coming out at some stage called Dad’s House and I voice one of the main characters which is very very exciting. I’m working on a podcast at the moment. And trying to fill out my new prescription for ADHD medication for the past month. No signs of success yet.
I Wish I Could Come Out Of My Shell is at Monkey Barrel Cab Vol 1, 17th-30th August. Tickets and more information can be found here!
