Scottish comedy rallies with fundraisers after Kathleen Hughes' Fringe run cancelled
Three special shows will raise money for the comedian’s chosen charity, Breast Cancer Now
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Comedian Kathleen Hughes has cancelled her Edinburgh Fringe show, Twig, after being diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year. The Glasgwegian, who was a So You Think You’re Funny? finalist in 2021, revealed in April that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer aged 30. ‘It's been a very surreal and stressful couple of weeks,’ she wrote on Instagram, ‘but I have made my family, colleagues, friends, in-laws, and now all of you, think about my tits, which is a huge power move.’
In an Instagram video the following month, Hughes explained that, due to the side effects of her upcoming chemotherapy, she was drastically shortening her Fringe run to just three performances. ‘I’m not going to be in any fit state to do a month’s run of shows’, she said. Following the decision to cancel the run, comedian Kate Hammer stepped in to help organise three fundraiser shows to take place on Kathleen’s original dates, Tuesday 18 to Thursday 20 August, to raise funds for Hughes’ chosen charity, Breast Cancer Now.
The replacement shows are Mango Comedy (Tuesday 18 August) which describes itself as ‘the friendliest comedy night in Edinburgh’ and features ‘an all-female/trans/non-binary line-up’; A Very Important Panel Show (Wednesday 19 August); and the Humour Mill Compilation (Thursday 20 August) featuring Gabriel Featherstone, Rowan Hackett, Rory M Spence and Kit Campbell, hosted by Chris Thorburn. Anyone already in possession of a Twig ticket can use it for the corresponding fundraiser show, while refunds will also be available.
Katy Koren, artistic director at Gilded Balloon, said: ‘When Kathleen originally got in touch regarding her cancer diagnosis, all of us at Gilded Balloon were shocked. We've tried to support her in any way we can to make sure that the shows could go ahead in any capacity but Kathleen now needs to prioritise looking after herself and getting better. Kate Hammer has been instrumental in helping us get these fundraiser shows off the ground and we are delighted the Scottish comedy community once again is rallying around to help a pal in need.’
Kate Hammer said: ‘As soon as Katy reached out to me, I was set on coming up with a plan that would make Kathleen proud, shows that she has a connection to and loves. And I'm so happy that we will have three nights of incredible comedy raising money for an amazing cause. I first met Kathleen at the LGBTQ+ New Comedian competition in 2022, and I was instantly in awe of how hard working, hilarious, and cool she is.
'The best part of being a comedian is becoming friends with the comedians you respect and adore, and I'm so happy to call Kathleen a good friend who puts up with a lot of antics from me. Her diagnosis was obviously incredibly heart wrenching to hear, and I wish it wasn't this way at all, especially as her show Twig is OUT OF THIS WORLD GOOD and I can't wait for the world to see it when she's ready to get back to performing. But these fundraiser shows in place of Kathleen's run will be entertaining, and all for Breast Cancer Now.’
Mango Comedy, Tuesday 18 August, 7.40pm; A Very Important Panel Show, Wednesday 19 August, 7.40pm; Humour Mill Compilation, Thursday 20 August, 7.40pm; all shows take place at The Gilded Saloon, Edinburgh; picture: Daryll Buchanan.