First-time Edinburgh Fringe performer Grace Helbig has taken some time away from her preparations to talk to me about how she’s feeling about the Festival.

So, this is your first time at the Edinburgh Fringe, How are you feeling?

Yes! It is and I’m excited and terrified!

How long have you been preparing your show for Edinburgh?

I guess I started preparing as soon as I got diagnosed with breast cancer. The diagnosis was so world altering that I had to use humor to ground myself. I wrote jokes, journaled, and documented my treatment process. In early 2024, as soon as I was officially in remission, I started writing the show. My debut performance in LA was the day after the presidential election. Who doesn’t want to listen to an hour about BREAST CANCER the day after Trump gets elected?? Shows since then have been increasingly less bleak!

What is your motivation to perform there?

Fringe has been on my comedy bucket list since I first started in improv comedy in NYC in 2008. I got swept away in the rise of new media and have spent most of my creative energy making internet content. But after a year spent mostly indoors treating breast cancer, I got the Little Mermaid syndrome – I wanted to be where the people were. Get me back onstage! Just like the diagnosis itself, the idea for the show landed in my lap errr… breast? Now I have a piece of work I feel so proud to bring to the stage. And to do it at Fringe is an incredible opportunity. I can’t think about it too much, it’ll make me emotional!

What have you done to prepare for the Edinburgh Fringe, emotionally and physically?

I’m prepared to be emotionally and physically ravaged. I’m ready for high highs and low lows. I’m ready to have a mental breakdown, a comeuppance and/or a radically neutral time. I’m keeping expectations low, spirits high, and my bowels regular. I’m ready to have hot flashes and cold sweats. I’m ready to be inconvienced and encouraged. Delighted and devastated. Inspired and exhausted. I made it through breast cancer treatment, this should be at least a little more fun than that I think.

Have you had any advice from other’s who have performed at the Fringe?

Yes! I heard everyone has a mental breakdown at some point. I can’t wait for mine. I wonder how devastating it might be. I also hear the theaters are hot, theaters are sticky, and audiences will sweat. I’m stocking up on deodorant and tiny fans. Also some of them mention that the festival is quite a magical time.

Have you visited Scotland or Edinburgh before?

I haven’t. But I got really into The Traitors last year so I pretty much get it.

How have you found booking  accommodation?

Cue Gwen Stefani’s Hollarback girl, 🎶 That shit is bananas B-A-N-A-N-A-S 🎶. I found an airBNB but I think I’ll have to sell my first born to pay it off sometime next year.

What plans do you have for your show after the Edinburgh Fringe is over?

I’m hoping to tour it more in the US and abroad. Basically, anywhere they’ll let me until my body tells me it’s too tired and has to go back to at-home hermitting.

Grace Helbig’s debut stand-up hour ‘Let Me Get This Off My Chest’ will be at the Pleasance Jack Dome at 7 pm for the entire fringe for tickets go to

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/grace-helbig-let-me-get-this-off-my-chest

https://www.pleasance.co.uk/via/search/edinburgh

Photo credit-Kim Newmoney.