Ania Magliano brings critically acclaimed tour show to the South West

London-based comedian, writer, actor and altogether fast-rising star Ania Magliano describes herself as “a triple threat (bisexual, Gen Z, bad at cooking)”.

Her consistently well-reviewed 2023 Edinburgh Fringe show I Can’t Believe You’ve Done This earned her a nomination for best show, and sold out its run before the festival even began.

By December, it had made many critics’ end of year lists as a standout comedy show of 2023, and Magliano is now touring it around the UK, with upcoming dates in Bath and Bristol in January and February respectively.

Deftly and hilariously told through the prism of her worst ever haircut, the story she tells allows audiences a very personal window into her world that she hopes will strikes a chord with people of all ages.

Can you sum up your style as a comic?

“It’s mostly me bouncing around the stage, talking honestly about my autobiographical life experiences in a way that I hope is relatable and entertaining.”

How have audiences been responding to your tour shows to date? Have they surprised you in any way?

“It’s been a great response so far! I’ve been very pleasantly surprised by how mixed the audiences are demographic wise, especially with age.

“I think people sometimes assume that because I’m 25, my shows are only for people like me, but they’re not at all. I love seeing whole families enjoying it together.”

Ania Magliano, I Cant Believe Youve Done This – photo: Rebecca Need-Menear

Do you find yourself living a life where everything is potentially material, or do your shows spring from thematic ideas that grow?

“I think the former, although it’s very rare that I’m in the moment having (for example) an awful haircut thinking ‘Oh great this will be the next show!’.

“In the moment I’m thinking ‘Oh my god this is the worst thing that could ever have happened, how will I recover, I’ll never be able to leave the house again’ but then five months later I’ll think ‘Hmmm, maybe there’s something in that’.”

To what extent is comedy a place where you can dovetail deeper personal truths with moments of levity? Are you seeking catharsis, or always just following the joke?

“I always want deeper personal truths to be knocking around in my standup. One of my favourite things when I started watching standup, as a fan, was seeing comedians being very open and actually pretty vulnerable as well as being hilarious. For me that makes the whole experience a lot more connected and meaningful. How pretentious!”

As a self-confessed former people pleaser, have you reformed, and what impact has it had on your life as a writer and performer?

“I’m definitely on the road to recovery, but boy oh boy it’s a long and lengthy process. I’m not fully there yet, but maybe that’s not a bad thing. As a writer and a performer, you do need a bit of people pleasing in you, I think. You want the audience to be pleased!”

Ana Magliano: I Can’t Believe You’ve Done This is at The Rondo, Bath on January 27 at 7.30pm and the Bristol Hen and Chicken Studio on February 22 at 8pm. Visit www.aniamagliano.com for tickets.

All photos: Rebecca Need-Menear

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