Little Lark of London

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Annabel Marlow about her solo show coming to the Edinburgh Fringe, . . . is this okay??. Marlow is returning to the Fringe as a performer for the first time since performing as Catherine Howard in Six, which went on to become a global sensatin. In this interview, we discussed how the show was created, what it’s like to be performing at two shows this month, and the things that keep Marlow coming back to the Fringe year after year. 

How did you come up with the idea for . . . is this okay?? 

I’d known for a few years that I wanted to create my own show, and that I wanted it to be funny and to be filled with music. I already had all my material when I decided I was definitely going to put something together this year, I just needed to figure out what form I wanted it to take. I did my first ever gig of all my music early on last year, and the energy and set up of that night felt so right, and completely inspired my show idea. I had so much music, and stories that I’d never performed live before, and so my friend Alice and I planned a night where I’d perform, and she would sell her artwork. We made an event online and invited a big group of family and friends to The Cavendish Arms in Stockwell. We hired out this super cute, artsy room at the back which had a small stage, a disco ball, lots of random furniture and props. The night was so good, I felt so comfortable performing to all people I knew and loved, and it made for a really funny, silly, chaotic night. But it also really fit with the more vulnerable songs and stories that I shared because I trusted everyone. I just decided after that night that that’s how I wanted my show to feel.

What is it like returning to the Fringe? How has the festival had an impact on your life? 

I can’t WAIT to go back! After performing in Six in 2017, I have visited every year and it’s just any performer or fan of the arts’ heaven on earth! Being at Fringe opens your eyes to so much art and performance and variety that you can feel so inspired to write and create when you leave. You’re surrounded by people going after what they love and having a party while doing it… or having a billion meltdowns while doing it. Either way, I always leave the festival with so many ideas and so much excitement. 

How does it feel to be performing in two different shows at the Fringe? 

I feel a little bit mad doing two shows every night for the month, but is that not what the Fringe is for? To be a bit mad?! I think so. I am so excited for Public to reach a wider audience. The feedback we received after our two sold-out shows at Vaults Festival were so useful and I think the show has grown so much since then. The reaction we got at Latitude Festival was overwhelmingly positive, as well as after our final London showing at artsdepot. We really cannot wait to share it at Fringe. I am of course nervous to debut my own show for the whole month this Fringe too. I have so much fun performing it as it’s different every time I do it and I have a few cheeky extra songs up my sleeve to give the show some variety as it gets later in the month. 

How do you blend together the vibes of going to a concert and chilling out in a uni room? 

The show does have a very casual and candid feel to it due to the fact that it’s lightly scripted and I am a human person who feels different every time I perform. And new things happen in my life in between performances too, so I have new information and stories and jokes and even songs that I want to include every time. I’m not playing any sort of character, it’s just me and I make mistakes sometimes, and I laugh with the audience. However, it is of course still theatre so at points I do make it more theatrical, and I do have songs that make me feel like a pop star when I’m performing them. (Wow, side note. I just got a wave of excitement about doing my show from this question so thank you!)

What do you hope audiences take away from your show? 

I share a lot of myself in my show, and I hope the audience feel as though they’ve gotten to know me. I hope that they have some conversations with friends afterwards that they wouldn’t otherwise have had. I hope they see themselves in a few songs too.

How would you describe …is this okay?? in one word? 

I asked two friends who have seen it twice. One said ‘scintillating’, and the other said ‘encore’!

Annabel Marlow will perform is this okay…?? At the Edinburgh Festival at 8.30pm in Pleasance Courtyard (Attic) from 2nd – 27th August (Not 16th). To book, visit https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/annabel-marlow-okay 

Photo Credit: Isaac Qureshi