Annabel Marlow chats to us about her move from musical theatre to comedy

Annabel Marlow starred in SIX's original line up when it came to Edinburgh Fringe in 2017. She now makes her solo comedy debut with ...is this okay ?? and promises a cosy, intimate, fun chill vibe but also "a f*cking concert".

We asked Annabel to divulge more about this, as well her move from musical theatre to comedy and her pre-show rituals...

How did you first get involved in comedy?

I got really obsessed with comedians at school, mostly sketch comedy and comedians on YouTubers. Lots of SNL of course. I loved hearing comics in interviews talking about comedy like it's a science. I loved being nerdy about it.

Then I started writing stupid sketches for me and my brother, and jokes that me and friends had at school and turning them into funny scenes.

In my gap year before uni, I did a foundation course at LAMDA. One of our directors there said I was a 'natural clown' in a rehearsal, and I realised that's the best thing anyone's ever said to me. He asked me to write a few scenes for our final showcase thing. I was like 'wow I love this.'

Then at uni I wrote some sketches for my course and for open mic nights and fundraisers for some societies. I always wanted to combine it with my songwriting but I was like '...how'? Then I wrote my graphic designer song and performed it for the first time the summer I left uni and people laughed!

You've described this show as 'cosy, intimate and chill' but also a 'f*cking concert' - how is it both?

I describe the show as having a cosy and intimate vibe because it's very lightly scripted, giving the feel that I'm chatting with the audience, telling them stories from my life like we're having a gossip at the pub. But then I've also got these songs that I wrote that are just big bops with big old vocals giving more of a gig vibe, where I'm really just showing off.

Who did you have posters of on you wall growing up, and would you like to meet them now? Would you like to be in someone's poster collection?

Instead of posters, my dad stuck the cases of my favourite and my brother's favourite vinyls up on my wall in this grid. There was The Beatles, Lady Gaga, Elton John, a lot of musical theatre. Other main influences for me are Carol King, Tim Minchin, Sammy Rae, Bruno Mars and again lots of theatre and musicals. But no, I would not want to meet these guys! TOO MUCH IS AT STAKE.

Hmmm.... not sure about someone having my poster on their wall but you can put sexy Polaroids of me up on your wall if we're friends.

Why is the show called ...is this okay ???

When it all started falling into place and it became clear that I was actually doing this, I was a bit like 'hmmm... why am I doing this? Do I even have anything to say? Is everything I've written meaningless. Who am I doing this for? Am I a narcissist?' You know? Those classic fun questions!

I also just seem to say this phrase a lot to friends as confirmation that I'm not an awful person, or in relation to something I've done that I think might have been awkward. It ties in with the themes and stories in the show, lots of which surround over thinking.

What's the last thing you do before you step out on stage?

I used to always sing Ella Fitzgerald's All Of Me, do the classic breathing, vocal warmups, a few stretches and physical things. But for my previews I've kinda hung out with the audience going 'I'm so nervous guys!' And then I go backstage and jump up and down and squeal a bit, maybe feel like I'm gonna throw up, then tell myself that I'm fine and to grow up and that I'm about to have such a nice time. And then when that internal monologue is over it's pretty much time to go on.