Cat Cohen on Sabrina Carpenter, the Edinburgh Fringe, and playing Shepherd’s Bush Empire.

Words: Lauren O’Neill | Photographer: Cal McIntyre | Makeup: Yolanda Dohr | Hair: Ash Hill | Styling: Freya Thomas-Taylor | Styling Assist: Holly Brown

Make it stand out

Cat Cohen kind of changed everything. 

Since her emergence in stand-up comedy at the end of the last decade, over time the 33-year-old comic has essentially become responsible for a comedic style – highly feminised, silly to the point of delusion, and simultaneously acutely self-aware – that has informed an entire cadre of performers, that includes Rachel Sennott and Meg Stalter among its ranks.

Falling somewhere between an Old Hollywood dame and the most highly-strung woman in any given branch of Starbucks, Cohen is both critically lauded – she won the coveted Best Newcomer award at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019, and the Netflix special version of her show The Twist? She’s Gorgeous, released in 2022, garnered excellent reviews – and rabidly adored by fans of her stand-up and weekly podcast Seek Treatment, which she hosts with the comedian and writer (most recently of Hacks) Pat Regan. 

Right now, however, she’s anticipating the release of her second special, titled Come For Me, on the streaming service Veeps. This is a show that Cohen has toured for two years, and for her, represents the pinnacle of her stand-up career so far. The Veeps release will be its final hurrah, as Cohen has now finished the tour.

A total distillation of everything she has become so beloved for, Come For Me is an hour of comedy-meets-cabaret which sees Cohen parading around the stage in go-go boots, feathers and sequins, playing electric guitar, doing an extended bit about egg-freezing, and singing about the void. It is, as anyone who has seen it will tell you, a masterpiece of contemporary comedy, poking at issues both specific and universal, and sending up our culture’s endemic self-obsession. To discuss Come For Me and its growth over time – as well as the city of Birmingham for some reason, and guys pissing on each other at the Edinburgh Fringe – we caught up with Cohen at the Polyester studio, the day before her final and biggest ever performance of the show.

Shepherd's Bush Empire is famously a big rock venue, so my first question to you is: how does it feel to be a rockstar? 

I am so excited.

I feel like the show has really evolved into a kind of concert. Who do you think is the funniest singer and why?

Yeah, definitely a rock venue feels fitting for this show! And I think Sabrina Carpenter’s music is really funny. Even Taylor, my girl, has some funny moments. I'm manifesting opening for Sabrina Carpenter because when I listen to her music, I'm like, “This is not dissimilar to what I do.”

Collar by @hannahevelyndesigns

I have another question about your show Come For Me. I watched it a while ago at Soho Theatre, back in its infancy, when it was a work in progress. Over the past couple of years, how do you think it’s changed? And how has it marked an evolution in your comedy compared to your last show and special?

Compared to the last show, this one feels a lot more personal and earnest. I’m asking more existential questions and really grappling with things in real time. The way it changes is by constantly doing stand-up over two years. The jokes get tighter, and I talk about what’s happening at the moment. The more you perform, the more you come up with better tags. For me, that process almost exclusively happens on stage.

What’s your coffee order? What are you drinking right now?

I got a cold brew, but now I’m thinking I should stop because I actually want to go to sleep early. Lately, I’ve been having trouble sleeping.

Headpiece by @kierasaunders_ | Dress by @louisewebber.design

Yeah if I have one coffee after midday it’s over.

What are you doing tonight?

I have to work. I am from Birmingham, and the piece is about our accent. I don’t have a strong one, but it’s very culturally distinct. Do you know Liberty from Love Island? 

How could I forget? She’s like the quintessential Birmingham girl.

Latex by @softskinlatex

Exactly, very Birmingham

Isn't that crazy that I've been to Birmingham? 

Deeply.

I went there on tour. 

Did you enjoy it?

No [Everyone laughs]. It was one of the bleakest stops – pouring rain and freezing. It's not their fault, though.

What’s the best freebie you’ve ever gotten?

First of all, I want to put it on the record that I want more free stuff. You know the brand Larroudé? They make amazing boots and they gave me a free pair. I’ve been wearing them for so many shows, and they’re so comfortable! They’re definitely on the expensive side, so getting them for free felt like a real treat. I can’t recommend those boots enough. They’re perfect for the performing woman, especially for anyone who wants to wear a giant platform and still walk around comfortably.

I was going to ask you about your outfits because stage outfits are such a big part of what you do. Can you talk about why you choose those hyper-feminine outfits? What makes a good stage outfit? 

I’ve really gotten into Norma Kamali. She’s obviously a fashion icon and a lot of her dresses and skirts have built-in leotards. This way, I can wear something super short and sexy while dancing and moving around. She also makes these dresses with giant sleeves that I love. So, that’s what makes a good outfit: feeling sexy while also being able to move, like squatting comfortably. I choose those outfits because they make me happy, and I feel most like myself when I’m dressed up.

I feel like there’s no escaping the fact that for a long time, people associated comedy with masculinity. To be so in-your-face with femininity can be confrontational for audiences – especially those who consider themselves comedy nerds and expect to see a certain type of performer at places like the Fringe. Even ten years ago, many female comedians dressed similarly to their male counterparts. So, there’s definitely an element of fun and challenge in embracing a more feminine style that might unsettle some people.

Totally! It also helps me nod to the cabaret and Broadway side of things. I think of myself as a comedian, but I’m really putting on a show. It’s not just about doing a set; it’s about creating an experience. It’s definitely a costume – people are coming into my world.

Would you say that you're doing a character?

No, it’s a heightened version of myself, but it’s not a character. People always say that I’m like that, it’s just turned up to an 11.

How do you cope with a run of shows as long as something like the Edinburgh Fringe?

I'm not in a good place right now [Laughs]. The thing is, the Fringe is my favourite place in the world. It's so magical, and I thrive on being singularly focused on something. But there’s definitely a rush of depression after it ends – like, “What’s my life purpose?” It’s that summer camp high. But I love it there, and I can’t wait to go back. This time, I took extra nights off, which is good. The first time I did the Fringe, I felt like I was going to die and swore I’d never do it again. But this time, I wanted to stay for the full month because I just love being in Edinburgh. I took those extra nights off so I could maintain my sanity. 

We had lots of good, sold-out crowds. It was a great run, and honestly, it couldn’t have gone better. But now comes the daunting task of coming up with a new idea

Many of our Polyester readers are aspiring actors or comics or something between the two. I wonder what advice you would give someone devising an Edinburgh show. 

The main thing I’d say is not to start with an hour; begin with shorter performances to really hone your craft. Figure out what makes you laugh and what you enjoy doing. I spent two years doing shorter shows before taking my first hour to the Fringe, and it’s so important to be 100% obsessed with what you’re doing, especially because the Fringe can be brutal. My main advice would be to go to open mic nights or comedy nights or even start your own. Hosting shows with friends in the back rooms of bars allowed me to try things out and really develop my skills. That experience led me to accumulate enough material for a full-hour show. 

Getting together with friends and creating whatever you want is always the best way to yield great results. 

You can even start small with a salon at home where everyone shares something. Those nights are the best.

Which Fringe shows were the best this year?

Well, I have two favourites. My dear friend Patti Harrison has an unbelievable show. I saw a work in progress of it, and it has come so far. Her mind is unlike anyone else’s – she's a total genius. Then there's Sarah Keyworth, whose show is a perfect Fringe performance. It’s an hour of comedy that should be on Netflix tomorrow. It’s so well done, and she’s incredibly smart, funny, and talented. Also, I have to mention Emma Sidi; she was really funny as well.

What’s the worst thing you’ve seen at the Edinburgh Fringe? 

Oh, I just walked by these two guys pissing outside the bar, and I don’t think they realised they were pissing on each other. It wasn’t great. That’s not the worst thing ever, though. In fact, nothing is really that bad. The bad shows aren’t bad because they’re actually funny; it’s the mediocre ones that are the problem, which I won’t be mentioning.

I agree! I saw a bad, freaky show a few years ago, but it was so crazy that I ended up having a great time. It's when you hear the same jokes over and over again, and the performer seems like they don’t want to be there that it really falls flat. That being said, respect everyone who has the balls to go, because it's not easy.

So, for tomorrow night, if you could describe your dream post-show celebration, what would it look like? Tell me about the glamour.

My favourite post-show celebration is this: I leave the venue, and someone looks at me and says, “Here’s where we’re going.” I follow them like a child, not even looking at my phone. I sit down at a big table, and right away, there are appetisers – calamari and fries.

It’s the Scooby Doo snack table.

And the server comes over, and I say, 'I’ll have a martini.' 

How do you take it?

Thank you for asking! In the summer, I like vodka with a twist. But in the winter, I prefer my vodka dirty.

I take it dry dry dry dry.

I also love a tomato martini. After the meal and drinks, there are two options. One is that someone says, 'There's a car here to take you home,' and I get right in and head to the bath. The other option is when someone says, 'Let me take all your bags; you’re going out!' and I’m like, 'Yeah, hell yeah!'

What’s the club playing?

I mean, just some club classics!