I was excited when I heard that Rosalie Minnitt was headed to Soho Theatre with her excellent comedy character show ‘Clementine’, because we know just how good it is, after we sent a highly trusted member of our team to see it up at the old edfringe in 2023. 

If you love character comedy, then this is definitely going to be something to add to your watch list. But the extra appeal for me, I think, is that the character in question comes from somewhere in the past, because I always enjoy some historical tropes and the odd bonnet. 

I arranged a chat to find out more, about both Rosalie and Clementine. 

CM: Can you start by telling us a bit about Clementine? Who is she and what is she like?
RM: Clementine is gloriously delusional and deliciously unhinged but, despite her being almost entirely self-absorbed, you sort of still want her to succeed.

The show follows Miss Clementine on her epic quest to find The One. She has until her 27th birthday to find her true love or else. Will our eponymous heroine succeed? Or is she looking for love in all the wrong places?

CM: What happens in the show? Is there a story to be told? 
RM: Yes, though it’s delightfully unhinged. When Lady Clementine’s latest beau mysteriously vanishes, she sets off on a chaotic quest to uncover the root of her ill-fated love life before her 27th birthday deadline strikes.

Along the way, she encounters meddling servants, lovesick suitors and suspiciously consumptive sisters, before unexpectedly stumbling upon herself. 

The show weaves a character-driven narrative that plays with period drama tropes, blending classic romance with absurdist comedy. 

It’s a twisted coming-of-age tale where the stakes are both high and low. Beneath the bonnets and melodrama, there’s a genuine story about trying, and failing, to find meaning, connection and maybe even The One.

CM: What themes and ideas do you explore through the show? 
RM: The show explores themes of love, fate and identity through a hilariously absurd lens.

As I said, at its heart, it’s about Lady Clementine’s frantic quest to find ‘The One’ before her 27th birthday. But really, it’s a story about the pressure to meet life’s milestones, the chaos of modern dating – disguised in bonnets and corsets – and the joy of embracing your own ridiculousness.

The show leans into parody to explore self-love, the messiness of womanhood, and the societal expectations we inherit – and often fail to meet. 

It’s a celebration of flawed heroines and romantic misadventures with a wink to the classics and a wink to the universal messiness of boys, boys and boys. 

CM: What was the inspiration for this? How did you come up with Clementine?
RM: Clementine was born out of a strange, chaotic mix of lockdown isolation, heartbreak, and a fascination with history.

I was in a pretty lost place, jobless, post-breakup and unsure what I was doing with my life, so I poured that energy into something completely ridiculous and escapist.

I’d always been obsessed with historical tropes, and the character came from playing with those – especially the idea of a woman stuck in her own era’s oppressive rules.

There was also this cultural obsession at the time with nostalgia, romanticising the past, idolising Jane Austen heroines, bingeing ‘Bridgerton’.

But I liked the idea of creating a character who wasn’t a girlboss or aspirational. someone a bit tragic, a bit deluded, and very, very funny. Clementine is what happens when those romantic ideals collide with 21st-century disillusionment.

CM: Can you tell us a bit about the creative process of bringing her to life? Did you write…? Devise..? 
RM: I just had this chaotic little character in my head and a strong urge to see what she could become. I first put her on stage in 2022, and it’s been a lot of trial and error ever since.

The show was a mix of writing, improvising, testing things out in front of very patient audiences, and constantly reshaping it as I went.

It wasn’t about getting it perfect – it was about getting it up, and letting it breathe. I think fear can be really paralyzing when you’re starting something new, so I tried to quiet all that noise and just go for it.

At worst, I’d fail and know I’d been brave enough to try. It’s tough to block out the noise and take a big swing, but I had nothing to lose. 

CM: Our reviewer loved the show when she saw it at the 2023 edfringe. Has it changed or developed since then? 
RM: Clementine has grown with me over time – she’s evolved through every bad gig, every rewrite, every bit of feedback. In that way, the show never really feels finished and I kind of love that. It keeps it alive.

Clementine’s comedy has hit home onstage for over two years because it’s all still painfully relatable.

In a world where we scroll soulless dating apps whilst yearning for a Happy Never After, young people are wrestling with the reality of a love that seems to have fallen so desperately short of what they were promised. But Clementine isn’t an ode to singledom. 

Like all good things, it’s messier than that. And funnier. It’s about celebrating the complicated parts of being a woman in 2025. One girl came to the live show four times and wrote: “if someone asked me why I love being a woman, I’d introduce them to Miss Clementine”.

CM: How was Edinburgh for you? Do you like the Fringe and will you go back? 
RM: Edinburgh was incredible – equal parts exhausting and exhilarating! Taking the show up as a self-produced debut was definitely a leap of faith, but the response was beyond anything I’d hoped for.

We had lovely full houses, some brilliant reviews and it was genuinely surreal to be listed among the best comedy shows of the Fringe.

There’s something really special about the chaos and camaraderie of the Fringe – it pushes you, challenges you and introduces you to the most amazing people. I absolutely loved it, and yes, I’d go back in a heartbeat. 

The only thing holding me back at the moment is money. I have a sequel to Clementine but I just can’t afford to bring it up at the moment. I don’t know what the answers are for comedians and artists in my position.

If you don’t have much industry backing or family money, the Fringe is becoming almost impossible to take part in. The barriers to entry are getting higher and that’s something I think we need to talk about more openly, especially in an industry that’s already so gatekept. 

CM: Can you tell us a bit about you, now? Did you always plan to have a performing career? How did you get into comedy?
RM: I’ve always loved storytelling, especially anything theatrical or a bit absurd, but I didn’t grow up thinking I’d become a comedian.

I studied History at university, and that’s where the performance bug really bit. I got involved in sketch and character comedy there, though it took me a while to take it seriously as something I could pursue beyond student shows.

After graduating, I was in a bit of a limbo. I didn’t have a clear career path. I started writing little characters and monologues as a way to process it all, and that’s where Clementine first emerged. She became this funny, heightened version of all my fears, flaws and frustrations, and that made her feel oddly real and relatable.

Comedy became the place where I could be honest without being too precious. I like that it lets you make something beautiful out of things that are painful or ridiculous. I never had a concrete plan, I just kept following the bits that made me feel most alive, and so far, they’ve led me here.

CM: What have been the highlights of your career thus far? 
RM: There have been a few moments that have genuinely stopped me in my tracks. Taking ‘Clementine’ to the Edinburgh Fringe and seeing it land with audiences was massive, especially as it was self-produced.

It was surreal to be listed among the best-reviewed comedy shows of the Festival, especially when I’d gone in with zero expectations.

Other highlights include debuting the show back in 2022 and seeing how it’s evolved since then. It started as a small experiment, and now she’s this full-bodied character I’ve toured and developed over years. 

Also, connecting with people after shows, especially young women who’ve said Clementine made them feel seen or understood in some strange way, that’s probably the most meaningful part. 

Every step has felt like a win, especially because I’ve built it bit by bit, often figuring things out as I go.

CM: What aims and ambitions do you have for the future? 
RM: For the future, I want to keep pushing myself creatively and exploring new ways to evolve Lady Clementine.

I’ve got a sequel in mind, which I’m really excited about, but right now, it’s all about figuring out how to bring it to life despite the financial challenges. My aim is to take her even further, whether that’s with a bigger tour, expanding the character’s story, or maybe even exploring different mediums like television or film.

I’d also love to continue collaborating with other creatives and storytellers to broaden my work. Comedy is such a dynamic space, and I feel like there’s always more to learn, more to try, and definitely more laughs to be had.

Ultimately, I want to keep challenging myself, finding new ways to make people think and laugh, and hopefully continue to grow my audience along the way. And, on a personal note, I just want to keep creating work that feels real and connected, and always be brave enough to fail, learn and do it again.

CM: What’s coming up next for you after this? 
RM: Next, I’m going to keep writing and developing ideas, but I’m also taking a moment to catch my breath.

It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and constant creation, but sometimes stepping back and giving yourself space to reflect is just as important. Writing helps me keep the momentum going, but taking time to recharge will let me approach future projects with fresh energy and perspective. 

So, after this, I’ll be balancing creative work with some much-needed breathing room, and then diving back in with new ideas when the time’s right.

Rosalie Minnitt performs ‘Clementine’ at Soho Theatre Dean Street from 9-10 May, find more info and tickets on the venue website here. 

LINKS: sohotheatre.com | rosalieminnitt.com | x.com/RosalieMinnitt | instagram.com/rosalieminnitt