Rachel Watkeys Dowie
- Writer, director, producer, comedian and actor
Press clippings
Queer comedians on finding a stage
Stand-ups including Suzi Ruffell, Paul Sinha and Lee Peart reveal how hecklers, bookers and 'the gay slot' have affected their appearances in the spotlight.
Rachael Healy, The Guardian, 13th October 2021Interview: Shelf
Shelf comprises of Rachel WD and Ruby Clyde: two lifelong friends who have been performing musical comedy together in the guise of Shelf since 2015. As well as being talented musicians and comedians, the duo are founders of The LOL Word, a monthly night "which showcases queer women and non-binary comedians from across the London comedy circuit".
Adrian Swall, Capers Magazine, 16th July 2021Battersea Arts Centre announces comedy season
Battersea Arts Centre has announced a season of comedy this September, welcoming back audiences to the iconic London building, with every ticket offered as part of the new Pay What You Can pricing model.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 30th June 2021Edinburgh Unlocked review
A carnival of comedy from the festival that never was.
Brian Logan, The Guardian, 23rd August 2020Edinburgh Unlocked audiobook to be released
Edinburgh Unlocked, an audiobook featuring Edinburgh Fringe performers, is to be released this August to help raise money for the festival.
British Comedy Guide, 13th July 2020Live review: Funny Women Final
The fourth act in this year's Funny Women Stage Award final, Charlie George, commented soon after coming onstage that "No-one is straight any more." She had clearly being watching from the wings or chatting to her fellow finalists as almost all of this year's Funny Women final line-up were either gay, bisexual, transsexual or pansexual. It's probably a reflection of both the comedy world and the "real" world and good to see that people can be open and honest about their sexuality at a time when society also feels like it is in danger of becoming more closed.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 20th September 2019Funny Women final 2019 review
With so much of today's best comedy, especially on TV, coming from women, it seems more ridiculous than ever to think of female-led comedy as a sub-genre. And judging by the impressively strong final in this year's Funny Women award, there are plenty more talented comics waiting in the traps to keep redressing the industry's historic gender imbalance.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 20th September 2019Funny Women Awards finalists' funniest school moments
The Funny Women Awards finalists reveal their funniest school moments.
Marc Chacksfield, ShortList, 15th September 2019The LOL Word is transforming comedy
This queer collective proves there's a place for comedy that isn't straight or male with a heart-rendingly hilarious Edinburgh show.
Ella Braidwood, The Guardian, 8th August 2019Fringe fresh: Shelf
Meet Rachel Watkeys Dowie and Ruby Clyde, a comedy double act who intersperse witty dialogue with sketches and songs.
Carrie Lyell, Diva Mag, 24th July 2015