Wandsworth Arts Fringe: We chat to Rosie Wilby
Wandsworth Arts Fringe: We chat to Rosie Wilby
As an associate producer at Wandsworth Arts Fringe this summer, we talk to comedian and podcaster Rosie Wilby about her personal highlights…
Main image: Rosie Wilby (c) Liz McAulay
Award-winning comedian Rosie Wilby is no stranger to Wandsworth Arts Fringe, having performed as part of it several times. In fact, she counts the festival as a big moment in her career, with the work she developed there going on to national tours and receiving funding from Arts Council England. Her Femmes by the Thames cabaret on Battersea Barge was a sell-out and she piloted her solo show Nineties Woman at The Exhibit in Balham. An early live version of The Breakup Monologues at The Bedford went on to become a global hit podcast and best-selling book.
Rosie has been described as the ‘lesbian Louis Theroux’, with her funny and insightful look at relationships in the modern world. She has hosted an award-winning LGBTQ radio show on Resonance FM and has appeared many times on TV and radio, as well as being a popular fixture on the festival circuit.
“It’s great to be involved with WAF again, and I’m very excited about the line-up and venues. They include Ada Campe at The Bedford, who has been described as ‘genius’ Wandsworth Arts Fringe by Sandi Toksvig. She’s wonderful, with her outlandish costumes and magic tricks that don’t go to plan. We’ve also got comedian and podcaster James Barr – that will be interesting after his run-ins with Piers Morgan.”
She adds: “WAF is really special in all the creative nurturing that it does with the artists involved. We’re also very lucky to have so many great venues in south west London such as The Bedford with its heritage as a comedy and music venue.”
Other highlights include Perverse Verse with psychotherapist and comedian Liz Bentley presenting a night of spoken word, Welsh comedian Vix Leyton and Funny Women Award winner 2023 Kate Cheka.
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WAF decided to bring on board associate producers for this summer’s festival to help attract new audiences and bring a range of talent to the borough.
Another associate producer is Martin Willis and his comedy production company Objectively Funny. They are programming a variety of shows for acts that are either going out on national tours or building towards a run at the Edinburgh Fringe. They will perform at The Half Moon in Putney and The Exhibit.
The other associate producers are Tom Sergeant & Nataliya Kharina who have teamed up as partnership DODOMU. They will take over The Arches at St Mary’s Church in Putney Bridge with themes of accessibility, community, and technology
