Bringing a deeply personal story to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Abigail Weinstock’s Giraffe is a show that blends sharp comedy with an unflinching exploration of identity, self-perception and late diagnosis. Drawing on their own experiences, Abigail has crafted a piece that is as humorous as it is devastating, offering audiences a candid insight into what it means to spend years feeling out of step with the world.
“I started when I went to uni, I did sketch comedy,” Abigail explains, reflecting on their route into the industry. “I did the Durham Revue for three years, I was the president in my final year, and we did Edinburgh every year. So that was my intro into the Edinburgh thing.” From there, they moved between acting training and comedy, before realising their creative focus was shifting. “I realised actually what I really enjoy doing is writing scripts, now I’m trying to do a sort of combo of everything.”
Describing Giraffe, Abigail admits their understanding of the show has evolved even in recent days. “I used to describe it as a comedy and then I did the first preview the other night and I realised it’s actually quite serious as well,” they say. “It’s about a young woman who believes she’s a dangerous sociopath and will do anything to try and hide that.” They add, with a wry clarity, “I would like to express I have never had a restraining order or a history of stalking. That is the biggest exaggeration of the show.”
At its core, however, the piece is rooted in lived experience. “It’s about undiagnosed autism, particularly in women and people who get diagnosed later in life, and what that does to your sense of self and psyche,” Abigail says. “I got a diagnosis when I was 25, so that really informed the basis of the show.” Much of the character’s identity mirrors their own. “I’m gay, she’s gay, my mum died when I was little and the show is addressed to her dead mum, my general worldview is very much encapsulated by the character.”
Writing something so personal came easily at first. “I didn’t really worry at first, when I was writing it, I was like, don’t be ridiculous, I’m emotionless, this is fine,” they recall. But the reality of performing it proved more challenging. “I was not expecting to feel how I felt after, I just hadn’t even anticipated feeling so exposed. I had to physically change my clothes afterwards. I was like, I can’t believe this.”
That sense of exposure is part of what makes Giraffe such a compelling prospect, particularly as Abigail navigates how to sustain themselves through the run. “I think now I’m taking it a bit more seriously, the mental health impact,” they say. “I’m going to have to work some things out.”
The decision to bring the show to the Fringe was driven by a need for creative agency. “I’ve had this story, I’ve wanted to make it for so many years,” Abigail explains. “The only thing I have control over is I can take this to the Fringe and I can do it as a one person show. I think I just need to get it out my system.” They add, with characteristic honesty, “If it’s terrible, it gets out of my system. And if it’s good, then even better.”
The development process has been intense. “I decided in about November last year that I was going to do that, and had to turn it into a one person show,” they say. “Since January, it’s felt really full on, I would be thinking, how can I possibly be working on this one hour show every single day for months and it’s still not done?”
Alongside its personal narrative, Giraffe also seeks to highlight a broader issue. “Autism in women especially has been so understudied and misunderstood that so many have been missed,” Abigail states. “The consequences of not knowing why you feel so different, that’s the thing I’m really interested in trying to raise awareness about.” By sharing their own story, they hope others might recognise themselves. “That means maybe you’re autistic too. And maybe that will help you to know that.”
Despite the weight of its themes, comedy remains central to the piece. “The whole thing is full of jokes,” Abigail says. “The character is using comedy as a defensive mechanism, and that’s what I do as well.” Striking the balance between humour and heavier material is ongoing. “It feels right because in my own life, even serious things, I still have the same approach.”
Giraffe is an invitation to connect. “Anybody, especially late diagnosed neurodivergent or neurodivergent, this is a show for you,” Abigail says. “This is very much a show for you.”
Listings and ticket information can be found here
