Catch Silkworm by Sarah Roberts at Monkey Barrel, 12 April

One Night Only: Acclaimed Comedy Hour Comes to Edinburgh

“Look in the mirror and tell yourself you’re perfect 10 times, then do the most toxic, worrying thing you’ve ever done in your life, and terrify all your friends and family. Finally, overline your lips and come to the show.”

That’s the official advice from rising comedy star Sarah Roberts ahead of her Edinburgh performance of Silkworm, her acclaimed debut hour. Coming to Monkey Barrel for one night only on Saturday 12 April, Roberts brings a show that has already charmed and unsettled audiences in equal measure across the UK.

A sharp and tender exploration of identity, shame and awkward girlhood, Silkworm is directed by Daniel Emery and Molly Stacey, and has earned Roberts accolades, including 99 Club Bursary winner and finalist places in the Leicester Square New Comedian of the Year and Komedia New Act of the Year.

“Look in the mirror and tell yourself you’re perfect 10 times…”

– Sarah Roberts

From Wordsmith to Comedy Stage

Before making her move into comedy, Roberts had studied creative writing at university and held a series of writing jobs. But it was stand-up that unlocked a more personal form of expression. “I think the thing you want to be doing is always a better choice,” she says. “Also, it pays the same (badly)!!!”

“I started performing comedy in my late twenties. I’d studied Creative Writing at university, and I had held down some low paid writing jobs since. But I hadn’t written anything of my own since leaving uni. I’d never thought about performing, but I was stuck creatively; then a friend of mine started doing stand up. And I decided to give it a go.

My first gig was at Comedy Virgins at London’s Cavendish Arms, sometime in Summer 2019. It went well, surprisingly. I won a tiny trophy for best of the night. I quit my job the next day at a photography magazine, and here we are.”

SARAH ROBERTS BY RAPHAEL NEAL 04 — **Sarah Roberts by Raphaël Neal in London on 6 March 2024**

A Love Letter to Her Younger Self

At its heart, Silkworm is a personal yet playful excavation of Roberts’ own coming-of-age. “Silkworm is about the stories we tell ourselves, and other people, about who we are,” Roberts says. “It reflects on how exhausting it is to be a perfect girl and fit into all these boxes. And it tries to find lightness in the shadier experiences of womanhood.”

The show also confronts Roberts’ experience of undergoing double jaw surgery at 21. “I got double jaw surgery to ‘correct’ a ‘facial deformity’… The show reflects on that experience, and how it feels to be told every day you’re facially deformed (spoiler! Not good!). It’s about realising you’ve actually been perfect all along, even though the world is constantly trying to change you.”

“A Circle of Secrets”

Far from earnest confessional, Silkworm filters its themes through playful absurdity and interactive glee. “The show also has a lot of embargoed gossip in it. Audiences can expect a circle of secrets, but all the secrets just happen to be mine. If you like oversharing, horrid nasty women, and flirting, then I think you’ll love it. If you hate laughter and gossip, then I’m sorry I can’t help you.”

That tone extends to how Roberts has approached life on the road. “I love being on the road! I don’t drive, legally I can’t because I’m too young. But I like taking the train because anything you eat on a train journey doesn’t count. So that’s nice. When I’m travelling, I make sure I buy at least 100 treats every single day as self care, and have 10 glasses of wine with my favourite audience member after every show.”

“I think the thing you want to be doing is always a better choice,” she says. “Also, it pays the same (badly)!!!“

– Sarah Roberts

A Show That’s Still Evolving

The Monkey Barrel date comes as part of a wider UK tour that follows a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe. But Roberts isn’t one to let a script sit still for long.

“It’s sillier! It’s bigger! It’s got an extra person in it, but I won’t reveal who. You’ll have to come and see.”

Despite—or because of—its rawness and goofiness, the show seems to have struck a chord with audiences. “Really well! It’s been such a fun show to do, and I love speaking to the audience and getting to know them. I try to curate a chaotic sleepover vibe at every show. So far, everyone has understood the assignment.”

“I Always Felt Like I Was in a Cocoon”

The show’s title, Silkworm, comes from a conversation with a friend. “Silkworms are a perfect analogy for the feeling I’m trying to convey in the show. They’ve also been perceived wrong, they’re not even worms, they’re actually moths… I always felt like I was in a cocoon waiting to become a beautiful moth, but I’ve actually been one all along.”

Roberts’ self-described addiction to Candy Crush also gets a mention in the show, with the game offering escapism during the long lead-up to her surgery. “My obsession with Candy Crush started when I was in this interim period… Playing Candy Crush was a relief because when I was playing it I wasn’t thinking about how I looked, I could be free! My only advice would be, don’t use Klarna to buy new lives on Candy Crush.”

No excuses now Candy Crush kids! You’ve been told.

Edinburgh Gets One Night Only

Roberts performs Silkworm at Monkey Barrel, Edinburgh, on Saturday 12 April at 8pm. It promises to be a night of secrets, sequins, and perhaps the odd tear?

For fans of alternative comedy with heart, this is a performer to keep on your radar.

Featured Image: Sarah Roberts by Raphaël Neal in London on 6 March 2024