Edith Alibec is a Romanian actress (half Romanian, half Tatar) who performs her shows in three languages: Romanian, English, and German. In 2018, she won all the prizes at Romania’s biggest solo show festival with her very first solo piece, Why the Child Is Cooking in the Polenta. Having worked across theatre and film in Romania, she is now tapping into clowning.
How did you get into comedy?
I watched my first clown show at the Fringe in 2023: it was ha ha ha ha ha ha ha by Julia Masli. It was blowing up at the time. I had zero network, no one to recommend it to me, I just somehow saw it on the internet. Then I saw Choosh on the last day of my Fringe and it blew me away. I still didn’t think I would do something like this though.
In 2024, I wasn’t going through a good phase in my life, and as I was walking home at the Fringe after a clown show, I saw myself in a purple suit head to toe, with this black hole in my belly called The Void. It was this vivid physical representation of the anguish I was feeling, and the sentiment that nothing was ever going to solve it. I wrote it down in my notes and I was like: if I ever do a clown show, this is going to be it.
Tell us about your comedy style:
I don’t know, to be honest. I’m discovering it now. I’ll tell you by the end of the Fringe!
What is your show about?
This gnawing emptiness we all have inside that we try to anaesthetize with all kinds of stuff, but somehow it grows bigger.
It’s called The Void and you can watch it at Cinema Room at PBH’s Free Fringe @ Banshee Labyrinth, 8th-30th August (not 19th or 26th) at 20:55.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Seeing other comedians’ shows such as Choosh by Julia Masli, WEER by Natalie Palamides and Horses by Elf Lyons.
How does it feel to be performing at the Fringe?
It’s not my first time at the Fringe, but it’s definitely my first time with a comedy show. I’m excited, and I think this is going to be the most fun one.
Tickets and information for Edith Alibec: The Void can be found here!
