A talented comic actor and writer is relishing the chance to swap the United States comedy circuit for the cosy confines of a historic Salford pub.
Fresh off a run at the Atlanta Fringe, Rebecca Wilson is bringing her one-person multi-tonal show ‘Ill.’ to the Eagle Inn pub in Greengate for a three-night run beginning on Monday 20 July.
The 35-year-old, who realised she had a “knack” for performing after parents heaped praise on her acting in high school productions, first ventured into the helter-skelter world of stand-up in 2018 and has gone from strength to strength since.
Ahead of her first-ever UK performance in the Greater Manchester Fringe, Rebecca told Salford Now she feels “honoured” to tread the boards of the iconic Eagle Inn and is looking forward to taking to the stage in front of a theatre-loving English audience for the first time.
“What I love so much about England is that there is such an appreciation for the arts in all their forms,” she said.
“It’s not common to do solo shows like this in America. People are like, ‘What do you mean it’s not just stand-up?’ before I explain that it’s funny at times, but there will be storytelling, different themes and moments where I make you feel a lot of things besides laughter.”
Rebecca’s hour-long show unpacks her experiences of caring for her mother, who is battling ovarian cancer for the third time, alongside her struggles with mental health, unhealthy romantic relationships and addiction.
She explained that her years in the stand-up scene paved the way for Ill., which blends laugh-out-loud moments with heartfelt, poignant messaging.
“For this show, I have really had to tap into my sense of self, figure out who I am and how to share my ideas,” Rebecca said. “In stand-up, you are trying to get a laugh, whereas now I am writing to elicit certain emotions. It’s really beautiful and I have to be a little more vulnerable.”
Rebecca’s show covers finding happiness again through a stint in a Boston psych ward, learning to practise stoicism, and ultimately letting go in search of lasting purpose.
She said theatre has often conveyed messages she needed to hear herself, and hopes her openness encourages audiences to look inward and prioritise their wellbeing.
“I share the stories of the people I met in those situations and want people to approach people they meet with curiosity as opposed to contempt,” she reflected, adding: “In modern-day society, we like to shy away from asking why something is going on. It’s always: ‘What’s wrong with you?’ I have no problem with being vulnerable in my stand-up because people have said to me that it has helped them be more open about themselves.”
“Being in my mid-30s, I feel like I have a lot of perspective but also awareness of more to come,” she laughed.
Up next for Rebecca is a visit to the Eagle Inn on Monday night, where her three-day residency kicks off at 8 pm.
“I am super, super excited,” she explained. It’s an honour to be at the fringe and getting to perform at the Eagle Inn is an absolute delight.”
Outside of her shows, Rebecca is looking forward to exploring a new region. “I love being abroad, meeting people, going to shows and experiencing a completely new place.”
So why should people in Salford pop into Eagle Inn this week to catch Rebecca’s show? “I will use my talents as a stand-up as an actor to make you laugh and make you feel and to teach you some lessons that you may not have learned but you should – and you’re going to learn them through me,” she promised.
“There are people I’ve met that you’ll never meet, but you should meet, and you’re going to meet them through me; it’s a time to feel and to understand humanity with curiosity as opposed to contempt.”
Rebecca Wilson’s hour-long show Ill. comes to The Eagle Inn from 20-22 July, with performances at 8pm each night. Tickets cost £10 and can be bought via the Greater Manchester Fringe website.
