Lil Wenker on finding her people at the Edinburgh Fringe

As she prepares to return to the Ednburgh Fringe, Lil Wenker talks about what she can't get enough of at the festival; recalls her most embarrassing Edinburgh experience and complains about the worst thing about the Fringe (apart from the cost of accommodation, obviously).
 

Edinburgh binge

When I was in high school, people would tease me for trying so hard. They would call me, creatively, a Try Hard. I would hit them back with the flaming one-liner: it’s never uncool to care! 

I know what you’re thinking … I must’ve been a total bad-ass hottie back then. You may be surprised to find out I was an absolute nerd. 

Throughout my life, I’ve stayed a weird little freak and probably descended far more deeply into that label now that I’ve become a clown. 

But my favourite part about the Fringe, the best thing of all, is that for one month, it is really cool to care. For one month, the freaks get to rule the world. For one month, a man who dresses as a gorilla and sits in a rocking chair is our Jesus, and we all celebrate the moment he rises again! This year at the festival, I’m excited to continue my hunt for new little freaks from all over the world. Please come forth! Make yourself known to me! 

I also like living a double life where I am a man on stage and then a little girl off stage. People often don’t recognise me when I come out as myself after a show, and I think this can really be used to my advantage this year for pranks and general shenanigans. Watch out! 

Edinburgh cringe 

Last year, I was performing in a late-night Monkey Barrel Stepdads show where comedians come on stage in a disguise and a panel of judges (Mark Silcox) had to guess who the person was underneath. 

I had a big idea! I’d been performing a work-in-progress of Boyking and had a big curly wig and a pair of tap shoes. I thought… how funny would it be if I came on in the wig, a pair of sunglasses, tap shoes, and nothing else?!? 

I imagined people would be falling out of their seats the second they saw me tip-tap-dancing  down the aisle of that dingy dungeon. It was that time of the month when everyone wants to take their clothes off—we all know what I’m talking about. Don’t pretend you don’t.

My entrance music plays, I start clambering down the aisle in rhythmic style, and I hear… nothing but a singular gasp followed by complete silence. It was, to say the least, a big offering to the audience. I eventually found some good bits here and there, several people guessed the comedian (me) was Jordan Brookes, and I made my graceful exit. I have only recently told this news to Jordan. 

Edinburgh whinge

I’m famously indecisive. Don’t take me to an ice cream shop! I’ll sample everything, get overwhelmed, ask you to choose for me, and then resent you for choosing the wrong flavour. 

This is a fact of my life as much as a metaphor for how I feel about fringe. There are so many brilliant shows and incredible artists to connect with that pretty soon my watch​ list piles up, and I get lost trying to see it all. I start working my way through comedy and then I get recommended dance and then what about the great theatre shows! What about the TV festival!?!

I propose a new solution: I think there should be a fringe dictator who allows us one show per day which we are randomly assigned to and must attend no matter what. We have no choice. Really want to see Elf Lyons? Too damn bad, today you were randomly assigned an American high school production of My Fair Lady with some of the worst British accents you’ve ever heard. Don’t try to fight it! This is the rule now. 

• Lil Wenker: BOYKING is on at Pleasance Courtyard at 9.45pm from August 5

Published: 30 Jul 2026