Following a barnstorming run of sell-out shows and critical acclaim at the 2023 and 2024 Edinburgh Fringes and two London residencies, Rosalie Minnitt brings her cult comedy hit Clementine back to Soho Theatre next week (11-14 September), and for a final time, truly marking the end of the ‘brat summer’ but with a Regency twist. Clementine is a hysterical, deranged and irreverent Austen parody that meditates on girlhood, romance and everything in between, a kaleidoscopic concoction of historical anachronisms, TikTok sounds and misplaced pop-culture references - imagine Bridgerton for chronically online girlies.
I have quite a lot of weird rituals I do before I go on. I get quite spooked if I don’t have time to do them. Although not right before I go onstage, I always have a Greggs chicken bake before every show. Which is a ritual that I started at the last fringe and now can’t stop because, amongst many things, I was baptised Catholic and am therefore extremely superstitious. It also means that I’ve consumed well over 100 chicken bakes. As I write this out, I’m realising that it sounds worryingly like the opening gambit of some late-night Channel 4 series about strange addictions. Still waiting for their producers to call. Or Greggs. Either, really. I’d just love some free stuff. Comedy isn’t cheap. Fingers crossed.
What irritates you?
I find standing up for children on the tube - specifically in South West London - incredibly annoying. I know this is an unpopular opinion but I’ll hold my nerve but then feel an unmistakable twinge at the back of my neck as the gaze of a passive aggressive, middle class mum bores down into my soul. She sighs dramatically and exclaims pointedly to the rest of the carriage, “Yes, I know you’re tired Henry.” Henry is usually completely unphased in his prep school blazer and, far from being a child, looks like he just sat his GCSEs. Sometimes these kids look old enough to have a wife and a mortgage. I’m not getting up, I’m exhausted, Henry. I’m buckling under the weight of late-stage capitalism here, Henry. I NEED this seat, Henry. I imagine that if I ever become a mum, I’ll retract this statement but for now I’m sticking firmly to my guns - and my seat.
I took a Greyhound bus from DC to Chicago. An Amish person tried to bite me.
Dated a comedian.
Sadly, how sexist it all still seems to be. I think I was a bit naive when I started but you have to work so much harder to get people on side - both in terms of the industry and audiences - especially if you’re doing something a bit outside of the box.
