Claudia Fielding is the writer and performer of A Costume Drama. In 2024, she was nominated by The Stagey Place for Best Solo Performance at the Edinburgh Fringe, was in the top 1% of applicants in the BBC Writersroom Open Call in 2025, and was shortlisted for their Voices programme.
How did you get into comedy / writing / producing etc?
I studied Writing for Performance at Central, having always acted in my younger years and finally realising that I could use my creativity to make stories and theatre instead of just performing in it. There’s something so fulfilling about hearing your words come to life, and whilst I am performing this solo show, I get great joy hearing actors speak my words and hearing an audience laugh. I am so grateful to have found something in my life that I get to call my livelihood.
Tell us about your comedy style.
I am a big fan of dry wit, having been called ‘droll’ a record number of four times in four different reviews. I focus mainly on writing jokes, funny candid stories, and focusing on the written elements of comedy. This show is a step up for me, having to rely a lot on the physical comedy aspects of wearing a giant egg suit for part of the play. It’s a challenge, but one I’m definitely up for in terms of broadening my comedy horizons.
What is your show about?
A Costume Drama follows the story of Ella, the first daughter from a long lineage of sons. Ella’s dad inhabits Yolkstone FC’s mascot Eddie the Egg, and like his father and his father before him, feels a certain duty to footie more potent than most other fans.
With the 2026 Mascot Grand National rapidly approaching and Ella’s dad feeling the physical effects of ageing, he asks Ella to run the race as Eddie in his place. Ella must decide to fulfil her so-called legacy by becoming Eddie in one extraordinary race. Heart-warming and hilarious, quality entertainment with a lot of heart and soul.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
For this idea, I was inspired by my childhood attending football games. My dad was a huge supporter of AFC Wimbledon, and I was always so curious about their mascot Haydon the Womble. Coincide that with my interest in the rise of football in theatre, but with a more specific focus not on the big names and players, but the everyday punter and their families. Boosted by the current World Cup fever, I think this is a very timely production to be doing at the Fringe in 2026. The time is right and it’s now!
How does it feel to be returning to the Edinburgh Fringe?
It feels very exciting to be returning to the Fringe after our debut in 2024. I am currently also producing this show, so I am looking forward to all of the production side of things to dull down and for the daily performances to take over as the priority. I enjoyed performing and living in Edinburgh for a month before, and I am definitely looking to broaden my horizons and meet many more like-minded people.
Tickets and information for A Costume Drama can be found here!
