Samantha Pressdee is at this year's Fringe with her first full solo show, and tells us about her comedy-activism here.

1. Tell us about your career so far. Are you happy with where you're at?

I started performing comedy in January 2014 after visiting the Fringe with a play the year before. I saw Mark Thomas, Alfie Brown and Rosie Wilby. I liked how they all had depth to their material. I didn't realise stand-up comedy could be so inspiring. I see it as a medium for truth.
I made the final of the Can Comedy competition on only my 7th gig, have done a bit of club work but always split the room. My objective was always to write a show so I've mostly just been waffling at open mics for the last 6 months, trying to grow organic jokes.

2. Describe your show in exactly 23 words.

It's about consumerism, are we consumers or are we being consumed? The media machine manipulates our primal instincts distracting us from the truth.

3. Why are you putting yourself through this famously stressful experience?

In a way I see my show as creative activism. I want to say something and see an arts festival as the perfect platform. If it all goes horribly wrong I'll just change my platform but not my message. Which is basically about people coming together, love & truth.

4. Any cunning plans to get more punters in?

"I'll take my clothes off and it will be shameless cos every knows that's how you get famous" - Lily Allen

We are having The Royal Mile Topless Takeover August 23rd at 2pm (Meet outside St Giles Cathedral)
My show is more a plug for the cause than the other way around. Free The Nipple!
If you are interested in learning why this is important to me, then come to my show as well.
Facebook Event

5. How much money do you think you'll lose/make this year?

I hope to at least break even, but it's not about money for me. I'm doing this for the love.

6. What's your weirdest past Fringe experience?

I gave Tony Law a psychic reading.

7. What other shows are you hoping to see?

Alfie Brown, Mark Thomas & Bridget Christie.

8. If you took over programming a venue, what would you perfect line-up of comedians be?

Russell Brand, Alfie Brown, Bridget Christie, Mark Thomas & Bill Hicks.

9. Name the one person you'd rather not bump into during the festival.

It's best that Katie Harrison "Critic" from Broadway Baby stays well away from me. If she can't handle confrontation on Twitter (she & Broadway Baby have both blocked me) she's going to shit herself if I tell her what I think of her "review" to her face. Snotty nosed brat!

10. Why should audiences pick your show over the 1,700+ other comedy offerings at this year's festival?

It's alternative, truthful and provocative. Gets a bit dark and not everyone's going to like it but that's ok.
I talk about Social Cleansing, Polyamory, Mental Health, Feminism, Austerity, Russell Brand, Tantric Sex, Demons.
It's weird, wonderful or shit based on the filter of your own perception. I'm just trying my best.

'Samantha Pressdee: Consume Shit and Die' is at 10:30pm at Espionage on 6-30 August. Listing