With more than four million followers across social media, two Sunday Times bestselling novels, sold-out stand-up tours, arena shows, becoming the first female comedian to sell out Belfast’s SSE Arena, and a reputation as one of the most exciting voices in contemporary comedy, Serena Terry has spent the last five years building a devoted audience both online and on stage.
In 2023 Terry won the Funny Women Content Creator Award and cites the ceremony, which saw ten comedians battle it out for the stage award, as the moment she felt inspired to take her comedy to the stage. “The talent and the sisterhood on the night was nothing I’d ever experienced before. It gave me faith in my future as a comedian and I left feeling so inspired by the support and championing for women’s comedy, something Lynne Parker has spearheaded and continued to drive relentlessly. It made me feel like I was part of something tenaciously special.”
In between touring the UK and Ireland with her 2026 ravely reviewed stand-up show, Therapy, Terry is premiering her first one-woman play, Factory Settings, at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Tell us about your comedy style.
Whether it’s a sketch or a stand-up set, my comedy is rooted in real life and personal experience around family dynamics, modern life, mental health, relationships, ageing, motherhood, grief and all the things we’re usually trying to hold together behind the scenes. It’s observational, honest, chaotic and a little bit self-deprecating.
What is your show about?
After suffering from mental health issues for years and entering an era where things seem to be getting worse, Tara is desperate to escape the grip of depression and anxiety. She joins a new clinical trial marketed at those wanting to reset to a more calm and secure mentality via the newly developed Cogreset™ chip. Powered by AI cognitive frequency software, the Cogreset™ chip promises to remove anxious tendencies, dramatised overthinking and pessimistic thought processes. But at what cost?
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Mainly my own life. I feel like I’m my own subject matter expert and tend to find comedy hits harder when its foundations lie in real life experiences.
How does it feel to be returning to the Edinburgh Fringe?
I’m equally nervous and excited. I’ve done stand-up at the Fringe twice before but never did any theatre. With stand-up, it’s just me and a mic. With my play, there are quite a few moving parts in my performance so I’m at the mercy of the technical gods in hoping things don’t fall to shit in the first 5 minutes.
Have you got any tips for comedians going to the festival for the first time?
Enjoy every minute of it, network with other comedians, see as many shows as you can and have fun!
What have you been working on/Any interesting upcoming projects/What’s next for you?
The UK leg of my 2026 stand-up show, Therapy, kicks off in September and runs until the end of October. Plans are underway to take it to Canada, Australia and the US, which is really exciting. I’ve a new comedy fiction book releasing next year, a pilot script in the works and a non-fiction comedy book about perimenopause. It’s all go and I’m feeling very blessed.
Keep up to date with Serena Terry by following her on Instagram.
Tickets and information for Factory Settings can be found here!
