Jules O’Brian on ‘Avoid Excessive Cleavage (and Other Advice to Ignore)’
After the success of our 2025 Camden Fringe Interviews, we thought it only right to attempt a repeat for 2026. So throughout July we published over 60 interviews to give a taste of what to expect from London’s best fringe theatre festival. The plan was to stop there, but as shows are still coming to us asking for interviews, we thought we’d do a few more! But we have to stop soon, we’re also very busy seeing the shows now.
You can find out more about Camden Fringe, along with details of every show playing here. You can also find all of this year’s interviews at here.
In a society obsessed with anti-ageing creams and impossible beauty standards, stand-up comedian Jules O’Brian is pushing back with sharp wit and raw honesty. Her solo show, Avoid Excessive Cleavage (and Other Advice to Ignore), heads to Camden Comedy Club this August to offer an unfiltered, fiercely funny look at the absurdities of growing older. Ahead of her Camden Fringe performance, Jules sat down with us to discuss body expectations, audience members sharing their wildest secrets, and why laughing at the process is the ultimate form of rebellion.
If you had to describe the vibe of your show in just one sentence, what would it be and how does it manifest on stage?
An hour of stand-up that fiercely objects to the ageing process, accepts it’s gonna happen anyway, and wants the world to be kinder about it.
Why is 2026 the perfect time for this show to be seen?
Every year that passes tries to sell us more and more miracle potions and devices that assure us our ageing faces and bodies are way too hideous to do without – can we please think about the poor people who have to see anyone over 40 (30?) out in public for goodness sake?! There’s no sign of it letting up. And, despite my best intentions and strong principles, I buy into it! It’s infuriating! Because, like everyone else, I’m older now than I’ve ever been before… We’re made to feel as though ageing is the worst thing we can do – even though we have no choice in the matter. Well… we do, but it would be a pretty drastic anti-ageing measure!
How important is audience interaction to you?
Well… this is stand-up. If the audience doesn’t respond, I’m getting something fundamentally wrong! So aside from the obvious laughter (I say obvious with my fingers firmly crossed) I do love when people offer their own experiences and insights. Sometimes that happens when I’m on stage, and sometimes afterwards. Some people are desperate to share what’s happening with their bodies, or thoughts they’ve had but never voiced until they realise, “Oh thank God, it’s not just me!” I’ve had ladies hitch up their skirts to show me the super strong tape they’re using to keep their “droopy knee skin” lifted, or talk to me about having to pluck their hairy nipples. I’ve even had a couple of ladies cry because they didn’t know it was okay to say these things out loud. People are hilarious and brilliant and generous, and I love when this stuff happens.
If your show had a soundtrack, what songs would definitely be on it?
“Look What You Made Me Do” – Taylor Swift
Oh how I bloody love this woman. (I desperately want to say something self-deprecating about how I know I’m way too old to feel that way, but I’m stopping myself!) The world around us is so insistent upon being critical and downright hateful about the way our faces and bodies naturally change as we age, and I became so convinced by it all that I decided the best way to deal with it was to look at it head-on, write about the absurdity, and laugh at it. So here we are.
“I Love Me” – Megan Moroney
This young woman is so fabulous. She’s stunningly gorgeous but writes lyrics that sting and ring true with this somewhat older lady. “I love me so you don’t have to, don’t believe nobody asked you for your unwanted opinion. It’s my world and you’re just in it.” Yes! Love you, Megan.
“This One’s for the Girls” – Martina McBride
It doesn’t matter how old you are, right from when you’re a kid you’ll have people telling you what you should look like, what you should have achieved by now, how you should be behaving. We’re all in this mess together and we can take strength from that.
“Gravity’s a Bitch” – Miranda Lambert
I mean… the title says it all, I think!
“One Way or Another” – Blondie
I know Debbie Harry wrote this about a stalker but I love how you can apply these lyrics to so many things! Right now, it’s how to get bums on seats and convince people I’m worth listening to, even though you have absolutely no idea who I am!
What’s the weirdest or most unconventional prop used in your show, and how did it come to be part of the production?
A life-size cardboard cutout of Elizabeth Hurley. She is a goddess and my friend’s neighbour. (All is explained in the show, I promise.)
If budget or reality was not an issue, what’s the one piece of scenery/set you’d love to have in your show?
Actual Elizabeth Hurley.
Our thanks to Jules for her time. Avoid Excessive Cleavage (and other advice to ignore) plays at Camden Comedy Club for one night only on Wednesday 26 August.
