Emma Crowley-Bennett (Fanny Bleach) is a Geordie writer, comedian, theatre-maker and drag artist. Her grotesque burlesque style of alternative comedy intentionally disgusts and delights her audiences, from prawn stars covered in mayo to one-breasted convicts.
She writes and performs for the all-female comedy sketch group Your Aunt Fanny, who are currently writing a radio play for Radio 4 and developing their next show, Crease, touring this autumn. The Nearly Naked Show is her first solo show and is currently in development for the Edinburgh Fringe 2026.
How did you get into comedy / writing / producing etc?
When I was 18, I auditioned for an all-female comedy sketch group as part of Live Theatre Newcastle’s youth theatre. We had two brilliant writers writing for us, and we were all between the ages of about 14 and 20. After a few great years with Live, we parted ways; it wasn’t until a few years later that we thought we’d have a crack at writing for ourselves, and it turns out we were mint. We’ve been writing and performing together ever since. The Fannies are my best mates and have genuinely given me the confidence to realise my own writing abilities and create my own work.
When I was young, I’d always wanted to be a burlesque dancer and perform at festivals and clubs, but I’d never felt very confident in the being sexy part. Then my sister snuck me into a burlesque club in Leeds, and a woman covered herself in cake, and that’s when I realised that you can be disgusting, funny and fit at the same time. I think I’m naturally a clown, and I feel good making people laugh, so taking my clothes off whilst having people laugh felt really powerful to me.
At drama school, I developed the character Fanny Bleach and tried out my own style of grotesque burlesque. My style is a mishmash of what I have learnt over the years: sketch comedy, grotesque burlesque and eventually drag.
I was performing one of my drag characters (One Tit Wonder) at a drag brunch at Dalston Superstore, and drag icon Femmie said I should audition for the drag competition Top Of The Slops season 3. I’d never really thought I performed drag, as I always presumed (wrongly) it was gendered, and I never felt my characters had gender. I ended up winning the competition, and I believe the intensity of creating a new act and character every week really improved my skills of creation.
Tell us about your comedy style.
My comedy style is pretty surreal, colourful and ridiculous. My background in sketch and drag means I literally cannot perform without pulling about a million props out of my arse, and there absolutely must be some kind of reveal, whether it’s the poo tract of a prawn or one giant tit, it’s probably always going to be a bit gross.
I love weird shit, and when people come to watch me, I want them to feel like they enter a new world in a new universe in a new realm that no one has ever heard of, but it’s not dark or scary or nasty towards anyone; it’s light, stupid and joyful.
What’s your show about and where can we see it?
The Nearly Naked Show is a reclamation of my naked body in all its gory glory, told through alternative comedy, cabaret and drag. It’s Goosebumps for grown-ups, and it’s weird, silly, full of reveals and larger-than-life characters who are all part of the freak show of Fanny Bleach’s mind.
Born from a place of defiance and protest, I wanted to make a show that was entirely mine. It is an AFAB body not only taking up space, but, if I’m doing it right, making a few cis men feel a little bit frightened. I call the shots, and I choose how much or how little of myself I give to the audience.
Two years ago, I made a formal complaint about a director I had at drama school; he was subsequently investigated and no longer allowed to work there. However, the investigation itself and the way I was treated left me feeling completely out of control, dismissed and unheard. This is when I realised I needed to take control of the situation in the only way I know how, and The Nearly Naked Show was born out of a need to do things my way and make a show that is completely mine and totally anti-male gaze, not to be mistaken with anti-male gays. The gays keep me going.
It is on every night except for the 17th and 25th at Assembly Rooms Roxy downstairs at 9.50pm.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I was absolutely obsessed with The Mighty Boosh growing up, and I think that shows in my work; I like to think my performances are pretty punk and DIY. Nowadays, I love everything Julia Davis makes; her and Vicki Pepperdine have me howling, and I think it’s really important to see women being grotesque. It makes me feel huge.
I’m also a big League of Gentlemen fan; their work especially inspires my sketch group Your Aunt Fanny. We love everything surreal and dark.
I find music really inspiring; I love Fever Ray, The B-52s, and I’m a huge Peaches fan. Her shows give me so much inspiration and energy.
I also draw inspiration from Goosebumps, Buffy, anything by John Waters, the Whitby Dracula Experience, The Hoppings (Geordies know), ghost trains at funfairs, sticky sensations and fluff you find down the side of the sofa.
What do you think makes great comedy/content/sitcom/etc?
Honesty and vulnerability, and not vulnerability in an overly sincere ‘I’m going to make you feel something’ way. I think the funniest things come from a genuine place. It makes me feel so uncomfortable when someone really needs the audience to feel something; I think it should be organic.
I personally love surreal, bizarre comedy, so when it comes to sitcoms, I love to be surprised and a bit freaked out. I think it keeps things fresh.
Who are your favourite Funny Women?
I have so, so many: Julia Davis, Jessica Hynes, Vicki Pepperdine, AbFab, Caroline Aherne, Dawn French, Smack the Pony, Sharon Horgan and so many more. I love them all for loads of different reasons, but I think Julia and Vicki really make me laugh because they are so unashamedly grotesque, my favourite flavour of grotesque. Their podcast Joan and Jericha has really kept me company over the years, and I love listening to them trying not to laugh when the other person says something absolutely mental.
Keep up to date with Emma Crowley-Bennett on Instagram.
Tickets and information for The Nearly Naked Show can be found here!
