Lolly Adefope interview

Still yet to be jaded and embittered by the soul-crushing agony of the comedy business, Lolly Adefope brings her well-lauded one-lady talent contest to the Soho Theatre from today. "My debut solo show," she says. "What a time to be alive!" Let's hope it goes as well as/much better than the shows below.

First gig?

I'd probably count my first gig as back in Year 6 when we had to perform a famous speech to our class. I did Dr Martin Luther King Jr's 'I Have A Dream' speech and I absolutely smashed it.

The show you look back on most fondly?

Apart from the aforementioned gig, it would be the first time I performed at the Union Chapel, at a gig called Stand Up for Refugees. I met our saviour JC in real life! (Jeremy Corbyn)

Worst gig?

I once had a gig where one of the audience members was in a wheelchair and so needed to be seated sort of in front of the front row and was thus really well lit. Which was fine, but then she fell asleep, and everyone could see. My life is crazy!

Who's the most disagreeable person you've come across in the business?

John Pitt, who runs the Bearpit Podcast Podcast. He doesn't pay his acts and regularly books known criminals. There have been many fires at his gigs, too many to be a coincidence. Despite this I will keep gigging for him until the day I die. Smiley face.

The weirdest gig?

I once did a gig where I wasn't the only woman, OR the only black person. I was all like, whaaaaaa? Get me outta here!

Is there one routine or gag you loved, that audiences inexplicably didn't?

I like to make niche references to things like Tracy Beaker, even if I'm in a country where it's definitely not a thing. You live and you learn.

Best insider travel tip for touring comics?

If you are in a car, try not to read (either a book, or, like, road signs) because you might get motion sickness. But I have never been on tour, so you should not listen to me.

The most memorable review, heckle or post-gig reaction?

A lot of people say that it's cool that I don't have to talk about my race in my comedy, and it's like, I know right? Why would I talk about my personal life experiences on stage? And then other people are like, why didn't she talk more about race in her comedy? And it's like, oh yeah! I'm black! I forgot to mention it! LOL.

How do you feel about where your career is at, right now?

Just like Justin Timberlake says: "I'm lovin' it actually!"

It's your last ever gig: what's the venue, the line-up, the pre-show rider...

I do five minutes of a very new and experimental character and then Kanye West performs all his albums in full. We 'cheers' each other with a big cup of Baileys after the show.

Lolly Adefope's self-named show is at the Soho Theatre from Thursday 18th to Saturday 20th February 2016. For more details and tickets visit sohotheatre.com