After a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe in the Stand Comedy Club. The twice award nominated stand up show ‘Marj’ goes on tour. The show will tour to 10 cities and towns across the UK. Starting in The Bill Murray in London and ending up north in Mareel in her home of Shetland. Including extra dates in London, Glasgow and Aberdeen due to high demand she will appear on the 10th March at Komedia, Brighton.
‘Marj’ was one of the top reviewed comedy shows of the Edinburgh Fringe 2023 receiving numerous five and four star reviews. Marj was also shortlisted for the (ISH) Edinburgh Comedy Awards for Best Show and the Neurodivergent Divergent Review Awards for Best ADHD show.
The show is an hour of surreal stand up entwined with one of Shetland’s most famous folktales; The Selkie Story. A tale about a magical seal-human hybrid, a selkie-woman; who without her skin, cannot return to the sea and has to take shelter with a fisherman. Marj, interweaves this story with that of Marjolein’s life. Providing a base for the narrative and a metaphor for the grittier parts of Marjolein’s own story. A journey of abuse, realisation and recovery.
Marjolein, who has just been awarded No. 3 of The List’s ‘Hot 100; as one of top Scottish Cultural Contributors shares her excitement of going on tour:
“I’ve always wanted to tour a show. It feels special that this should be the one I share across the country. I wrote Marj to help me process what I’d been through. But then, every day during the Fringe as the audience left, there would be folk coming up to me to share their own experiences and how the show was a comfort to them. That to me matters more than any of the accolades or reviews. I hope this show can continue to help folk. Also this tour gives me an excuse to go to Bristol. There’s a pretty rad boat I’d like to see. I really like boats.”
Marjolein Robertson is a Shetland comedian who has been on the rise over recent years. Last year being awarded No. 3 of The List’s ‘Hot 100’ as one of the top Scottish cultural contributors after being billed No. 8 in 2022. Marjolein was also a finalist of the BBC New Comedy Awards in 2022 and won 2nd Place in the Funny Women Stage Awards. Marjolein was also awarded Scots Speaker of the Year in 2022. She has been listed as One To Watch by Funny Women and Union JACK Radio.
The boat Marjolein wants to see in Bristol is Brunel’s SS Great Britain; the first iron built ship to be combined with a screw propeller.
Reviews
“Pulling these three threads together to create such a cohesive show is an achievement many talented playwrights would be proud of. That it’s also properly funny and proper stand-up shows Robertson is scaling new heights as a creator as well as a performer.” ***** The List
“The light and shade that she blended and captivated the audience with was spellbinding, there were times when the club roared with laughter, other occasions you could have heard a pin drop.” ***** One4Review
“A beautiful, hilarious and heartfelt show.” **** Entertainment Now
“Captivating, curious, adventurous. Marjolein Robertson may come off as a bit of a hot mess.” **** The Comics Comic
