FESTIVAL COMEDY | Jayde Adams DIVINE COMEDY

Hiding pain and

being fabulous are the twin ambitions of Jayde Adams at the Fringe, as Claire Sawers nds out

60 THE LIST FESTIVAL 1–8 Aug 2018

‘I ’ve been hanging out with drag queens for almost 10 years, back when it was punk, and before it became mainstream. It was only a matter of time before I

became a gay icon!’ laughs Jayde Adams.

After being nominated for Best Newcomer in 2016’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards then having a hit Fringe show with Jayde Adams Is Jayded, she’s back with a new hour. The Divine Ms Jayde takes its title from a 2017 List review describing her as, ‘a deadpan cross between the Divine- inspired Ursula from The Little Mermaid and Adele’.

Last year’s show explained an epiphany she had after tragically losing her older sister. That trauma seven years ago spurred her into action, and she’s been racking up telly appearances since, including 8 Out of 10 Cats, Russell Brand’s Stand Off and Good Omens, alongside David Tennant and Michael Sheen. ‘I’ve got my trauma, we all do. I miss my sister. I’ve got four #MeToo stories. But the audience doesn’t want them. People are so self-obsessed these days. This year, I just want to be fabulous. But not too happy either: everyone remembers Only Fools and Horses, it was rubbish when they became millionaires. Comedy gets lost when you become a winner. Luckily I’m my own harshest critic so I know when to undercut myself.’

She describes her onstage persona as ‘a funny, clowny diva’ with plenty of punchlines and songs. ‘Edinburgh encourages you to hide behind your pain, and be vulnerable and confessional. I’ve done that and I’m in a better place now. You can’t get up there and be surrounded by clapping and say “I feel like an outsider”. It doesn’t ring true. Plus the drag queens remind me to focus on entertaining people. Rather than harping on about my woes, they’re like “not here, love, our fathers all hate us for being gay. Move on babe”.’

Jayde Adams: The Divine Ms Jayde, Pleasance Courtyard, 4–27 Aug, 9.30pm, £10–£13 (£8.50–£12). Previews 1–3 Aug, £7.50.