EDINBURGH 2025: Zara Gladman Q&A

BWW catches up with Zara Gladman to chat about bringing "Zara Gladman is...Aileen: Cameron’s Gap Year Fundraiser" to the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Who is Aileen and how did she find fame?

Aileen is an oat latte-swigging, Pilates-going mother from the affluent West end of Glasgow. She's passionate about her role as Chair of the Neighbourhood Watch Committee and cares deeply about parking enforcement. Aileen found fame online a couple of years ago in "West End Mums", a parody of a certain Pet Shop Boys number.

Tell us a bit about the show Cameron's Gap Year Fundraiser.

Aileen has come to the Fringe for a worthy cause: to raise funds for her privileged son's jaunt across the world. As a guest you can expect musical entertainment, raffle prizes (it is a fundraiser after all!), silly (and sometimes dark) character comedy and a few surprises. I have a short attention span so I've worked hard to make sure there's plenty to keep me - and the audience - engaged for a whole hour. 

What do you think it is about Aileen that appeals to audiences?

I think 'Aileen' has appeal because she is a highly recognisable character. There are Aileens all across the country, not just in Glasgow's West end: Morningside in Edinburgh, Primrose Hill and Dulwich in London, Clifton in Bristol, West Didsbury in Manchester... I could go on but it's probably quicker just to draw a map of the UK's Waitrose locations. 

Aileen's cluelessness about real world struggles is what makes her so ridiculous and ripe for comedy. The idea of fundraising for a rich kid to go on his gap year tickled me; it's exactly the kind of thing that she would do. 

How difficult is it to go from online clips to a full hour long show?

Online clips are a great starting point for developing a character and building an audience. But writing and performing a full hour is a completely different skill set. I was able to test the waters at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival last year. I was very conscious of making the jump (the imposter syndrome is real) but rehearsed heavily and thankfully, it went really well. Having a full hour to craft a story has been very fulfilling, creatively.

With this being your Fringe debut, do you think you know what to expect from the festival?

I've been watching a lot of YouTube documentaries and podcasts so that I go in with my eyes open, as much as possible. I've also been sharing my own experience - including full transparency about the costs - on my social media, as I was surprised at some of the hidden expenses that artists incur. I know it's going to be challenging in lots of ways but I'm really excited for the experience of fully immersing myself in the comedy world for a couple of weeks. 

And you have a sketch pilot coming out as well?

'Good For Her' comes to BBC iPlayer and BBC Scotland on Monday 14 July. It's been a privilege working with a full TV crew and talented cast (Kim Blythe, Stuart Cromarty, Sophie Rose-McCabe). There's a mix of everything in it: characters, music, 90s nostalgia, even some celebrity cameos. It's the first thing that I've ever directed, written and starred in myself, so definitely a labour of love. I hope you like it! And if you do, the Fringe is just around the corner, tickets available now...

Tickets are now on sale on the Edfringe website.

Photo credit: Neil Jarvie

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