Arts and Culture

Women in Comedy Festival welcomes neurodiverse, LGBTQ+ comedian Sallyann Fellowes

A multi-award winning, neurodiverse comedian brings her autobiographical stand-up show to Manchester on Sunday 13 October – fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 

Sallyann Fellowes will be welcomed to the 11th annual Women in Comedy Festival as she performs Salien – an exploration of her wild and varied experiences from permanent school suspension, to a career as a police detective, to what it’s like being the niece of the Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs. 

But it is the diagnoses of several neurodiverse conditions she received five years ago that gave her a new perspective on the feeling that she never fitted in, and provided her with compelling material for a show that went on to win her Leicester Square Theatre’s New Comedian Of The Year 2023. 

A judge on the panel said: “She talks about being a high-functioning autistic queer person with ADHD and puts forward off-kilter ideas that seem to make perfect sense to her in a delightful way. 

“And it impressed the judges – myself included.”

Fellowes grew up feeling like an alien, and while she’s glad to have clarity on her diagnosis of autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia as an adult she is sad that this was missed in her childhood. 

And her unique, innovative take on her challenges has delighted audiences up and down the UK. 

An audience member at her Edinburgh show said: “Sallyann is naturally hilarious.

“This is a well-crafted show.”

Another in Newcastle said: “Sallyann had quirky takes on driving and being autistic amongst others.

“She has a very individual stage presence.”

Tickets for Fellowes’ show cost £7 and she will perform at 14.45 on Sunday 13 October.

Buy tickets for Salien at Fierce Bar here.

Feature Image Credit: Sallyann Fellowes

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