Marie Claire UK - 09.2019

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Womankind

FRINGE BENEFITS

Comedy fans rejoice - the Edinburgh Fringe is

back, and there are LOLs-a-plenty to be had

WOMEN

WHO WIN

JenniferNadel is a journalist and

barrister. While at ITV in the 90s,

she led investigations into global

injustices, exposing the use of rape

asa weapon in war. In 2018, she

co-founded Compassion in Politics,

a campaign group aiming to place

‘empathyat the heart of politics’

‘BE YOURSELF – IT WILL

LIBERATEOTHERS’

‘Weall need to own ourselves. Telling

anaudience of 2,000 that I’d

had two breakdowns is the most

liberating thing I’ve ever done,

because I no longer have to pretend.

I can own every single part of me –

the part that can run for Parliament

andbroadcast to millions, alongside

thepart that ended up in hospital

with serious depression when my

marriageended. It takes real

courage to reveal one’s vulnerability.’

‘THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR

COMPASSIONATEPOLITICS’

‘It is often dismissed as idealistic

and woolly headed, but compassion

requiresstrength and can facilitate

a great deal, and it’s something we

need now more than ever. We’re

campaigning for a Compassion Act,

which would ensure no future law

could leave those in the most

vulnerable circumstances any worse

off. Our campaign is finally getting

traction, with people signed up from

seven different political parties.’

‘SETTING YOURSELF GOALS

CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE’

‘As a barrister, I realised it would

take a long time before I’d make any

difference, whereas TV has an

immediate impact. So I gave myself

five years to be a journalist, otherwise

I’d go back to the bar and do it the

slow way. Goal setting works.’

Visit compassioninpolitics.com

Startpractising your

kegel exercises, the

Edinburgh Fringe is in

town, and the comedy

line-up looks set to be a

belter. From 2-26 August,

thousands of performers

will take to the stage in

thelargest event of its

kindin the world. Anyone

whocan find a venue to

performin can put on

a show, which means

audiences get to enjoy

a mix of music, comedy,

dance and theatre. Here

are the female comedians

we’re excited about...

01 HARRIET DYER

Mental health might not

sound like the funniest

topic for a comedian to

tackle, but as the creator

of the podcastDon’t

Worry Bi (Polar) Happy,

Harriet Dyer pulls it off

and gives audiences

some important food for

thought. FYI, her new show

is largely dinosaur-focused.

02 SARA BARRON

American writer and

honoraryBrit Sara Barron

wasnominated for Best

Newcomerlast year.

This year, she’s back,

examining ‘kindness,

meanness, ex-boyfriends,

ex-girlfriends, husbands,

her four remaining friends

and two of her 12 enemies’.

It’s about hating those

you love, and revenge

served warm.

03 IZZY MANT

As a BAFTA-winning

producer of top comedies

such asPeep Show,Harry

& Paul,Toast Of London

andCuckoo, you’re in safe

hands with Izzy Mant. Now

stepping out from behind

the camera with her own

show,Polite Club, Mant

discusses car-crash

dates, awkward work

scenarios and sex parties

(yes, really). A must-see.

04 NJAMBI McGRATH

Winnerof the NATY (New

Actof the Year) award for

2019,Njambi McGrath is

backfor her sixth Fringe

appearance. She’s diving

straight into the heavy

stuff with her show

‘Accidental Coconut’,

which debunks racial

stereotypes and discusses

the inevitable... Brexit.

05 KATE LUCAS

Like your comedy dark

and dry? In ‘Kate Lucas

Is Selling Herself’, Lucas

shines a spotlight on the

Insta generation’s ability

to market themselves,

then starts selling parts

of herself to the audience.

Expect belly laughs

and catchy earworms.

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FESTIVAL

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