Funny Women Awards Finalist Ashlee Bentley is an Irish stand-up comedian and winner of the inaugural Magners ‘Share The Craic’ competition. Previously, she won the Irish comedy competition ‘Show Me The Funny’ and earned a performance slot at the Electric Picnic Festival in 2018.
Winning the first-ever Magners competition came as a total shock, but she is over the moon and deeply grateful to bring her work to wider audiences.
How did you get into comedy/writing/producing etc?
I knew I wanted to be a comedian when I was eight years old. I loved how comedy made me feel and I wanted to make other people feel the same way. I didn’t pursue it till much later, unless you count my first gig at eight years old in the school playground. When I finally bit the bullet and got up on a stage I was hooked immediately.
Tell us about your comedy style.
I think my style is quite dry and deadpan. It’s very conversational and rooted in personal stories about awkwardness, anxiety, and everyday life. I tend to deliver everything quite matter-of-factly, and I think that contrast is where I hope a lot of the humour comes from.
How does it feel to be performing at the Edinburgh Fringe?
It feels incredible to be performing at the Fringe Fest. I’m very grateful. I love the festival so much. I love going to as many shows as I can and discovering acts I’ve never seen before. However, a full run has always been out of reach for me financially.
The costs seem to get greater and greater every year. That’s why support from big brands is so important and why winning Magners ‘Share The Craic’ has been so brilliant. I wouldn’t be able to bring my show to the Fringe without it.
We need more opportunities like this so we can hear all kinds of voices, especially grassroots comedians, at the Fringe. That’s why it makes me so excited to say that this year I’ll be bringing my show, Wallflower, to The Wee Coo Stage in George Square, where it’ll be on daily from 5th-31st August at 10:20pm. I can’t wait!
What is your show about?
My show is called Wallflower. It’s about what it feels like to spend your life on the sidelines, watching life happen around you instead of jumping into it. It’s about being awkward, anxious, and trying to step out of your comfort zone, even when every instinct tells you not to. It’s a very personal show, but I hope it’ll resonate with anyone who’s ever felt like they were just observing life instead of living it.
Who are the funny women you would recommend seeing at the Edinburgh Fringe this year?
I would recommend seeing Grace Mulvey, Sophia Wren and Louise O’Toole, all extraordinarily talented women and I can’t wait to see all of their shows.
Tickets and information for Wallflower can be found here!
