Comedy / Amy Annette
Amy Annette brings sellout standup show about noughties diet culture to Bristol
Although peripherally involved with the comedy scene for many years while working in TV production, it’s much more recent that Amy Annette has been a standup herself. And it’s fair to say that she’s hit the ground running.
Selling out her debut Edinburgh Fringe run with the noughties diet culture-themed Thick Skin, where extra shows were added due to demand, she transferred to the Soho Theatre and has in recent weeks been performing to sizeable crowds on the other side of the world.
Now back on home turf for a UK tour, Annette is also in the process of warming up her follow-up solo hour, which she will be taking north of the border in August.
is needed now More than ever
She spoke to Bristol24/7 ahead of a night at The Wardrobe Theatre on May 30.
You’ve been on tour with Nish Kumar in the US and Australia – what’s the experience been like so far?
“I have been on tour with Nish across North America – from Toronto, to Tulsa, via Atlanta and LA (and more). I have eaten more than I ever could have imagined and met so many people who were so happy to be in a room of people listening and laughing with Nish, talking about our current (terrifying) world.”
What have audience reactions in different parts of the world taught you about the common pitfalls of navigating our teenage years?
“I have been amazed that no matter the state, no matter the area, everyone knew that Kate Moss quote ‘nothing tastes as good as skinny feels’. Which has been great for my jokes, but sad beyond belief that that has persisted.”
Through the process of mining your younger years for comedy, to what extent were you looking for a degree of catharsis – and did you find it?
“I partly did the show to work through the madness of the early 2000s, but also, to a greater extent, to bring my experiences to the new generation of Gen Zs that are now seeing the beginnings of the negative body culture of the 2000s come back!
“I guess I may have had catharsis from being in a room of so many people of all different generations and the fact that everyone knows the Kate Moss quote or groan when they are reminded of girls magazines (or as I describe to Gen Zs – like Tik Tok but paper, and worse).”
From the noughties to today, would you say the trajectory is a positive one in terms of body image and diet culture?
“Unfortunately, I think it’s not getting better. Perhaps it’s like lipstick sales going up, which is a marker of recession; maybe when things are bad we try to control our bodies as a way of having some control (lol?) Also, the conspiracy theorist in me wonders if they want us hungry and weak? (again lol?!?)”
You are visiting The Wardrobe Theatre on the penultimate night of the tour. Do you have any particular expectations of Bristol audiences?
“Always a dream audience! So smart, attractive and kind, did I mention very attractive?”
Finally, what’s next for you?
“I’m back to Edinburgh Festival with my new show Busy Body, and then hopefully right back to Bristol next year with it!”
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Amy Annette: Thick Skin is at The Wardrobe Theatre on May 30 at 7.30pm. Tickets are available at www.thewardrobetheatre.com.
All photos: Matt Stronge
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