Letters to a Fringe Comedian: Jain Edwards and Andy Barr

Dear Jain,

Hey girl. I would love to see the show (I presume I would get guest list?)

Hope you have worked out the ending by now. And have learnt it of course. I know how hard you’ve worked on this show though and have no doubt in how much everyone will adore it. 

I am so proud that you have finally learnt to pour your energy into yourself!! I am still getting to grips with how women are often socialised to give away so much of ourselves to those around us. This show is a testament to you unlearning that, in your habits and in your thoughts. To take more of a leap for yourself. And I know it’s so much harder when you have lived with a lot of scarcity in your life. After that, it is hard to invest in yourself in a way that can often seem frivolous, unnecessary.

Jain Edwards. Photo: Michael Mannion

This has been a very long journey. From your first tough gigs at 19, to missing out on going to an early Fringe with your peers because you had to move back to Rhyl and work on a caravan park. Those years of not being able to gig because your living conditions were so bad, you couldn't think of much else. I still think of the bullying you had to put up with when you first started comedy. I’m really amazed that you pulled through everything that this industry has thrown at you and you are still here. You know this but everything was for the best. It has given you time to grow as a person and a comedian. It’s great to see you finally living a softer life, blooming and finally being able to dig deep and create the things that have lived inside you for so long. And it only gets better. 

Good luck,

Jain x

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Jain Edwards: She-Devil, Underbelly Bristo Square (Daisy), 30 Jul-25 Aug (not 11), 4.15pm, £8-12; tickets via edfringe.com 
@jain_edwards on Instagram

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Dear Andy,

So you’re finally doing it – debuting again with your fourth show, after 15 years of performance, and three full runs of loose, narrative character comedy efforts. Lucky you can write those fluffy, youthful efforts off as the work of a different person – someone from a lifetime ago. Now you’re back – as you. Again. This time, though, it means something – doesn’t it? Or at least it did when it was a covert ode to a deceased friend. Now, of course, time has healed that wound and it seems cynical and disrespectful to open it up again, night on night, for a paying audience.

Still – you’ve got 40 minutes of solid gold stuff, so what if there’s no trauma at its core? I have faith that you’ll figure out a meaning to add a little weight to it and, if not, surely a show that’s simply funny is enough. We’ll see!

Andy Barr. Photo: Michael Julings

As far as the lifestyle is concerned, need I remind you that you no longer have the stamina you had in 2019? Your bones ache a little more, your hair is thinner, your face a little more drawn. For god’s sake, try and approach this year with some dignity. It’ll take you enough time to manoeuvre your creaking back from the washboard student mattress without a 4am in Brooke’s Bar hangover in the mix. And for goodness sake, do your gut a favour and eat like you’re not some sort of digestive masochist.

Repeat after me: gym, batch cook, early nights.

If you make it, I’ll see you in September for the resumption of your day job. Remember – nothing ever changes, except when it does.

Respect, best wishes,

Andy

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Andy Barr: The Hotly Anticipated 4th Debut Hour from Rising Star, Andy Barr, Pleasance Courtyard (Cellar), 30 Jul-24 Aug (not 13), 8pm, £9-13, tickets via edfringe.com
@catballbag on Instagram