INTERVIEW: A Digital Pint with… Abigail Weinstock, on Autism Diagnosis, Dead Parents, Queer Identity, and Being ‘Too Tall’

Abigail Weinstock is bringing her semi-autobiographical show Giraffe to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe next week. The piece follows Eliana – who’s always felt different, but after being accused of stalking her neighbour and receiving a restraining order, has to prove to the court that she’s ‘normal’. Abigail stresses she has no history of stalking, but that the piece covers everything from her autism diagnosis through to her queer identity, Jewish identity, and more. We caught up with Abigail for a pixelated pint to find out more about the show.

You can catch Giraffe at Pleasance Courtyard (Cellar) from 13:45 (60mins) on August 5 – 14, 16 – 24, 26 – 31. Tickets are Available Through the Pleasance Box Office.

Shay: Hi Abbie, tell us about creating a show about your autism diagnosis and why you have decided to bring this to the stage now?

Abbie: Hi! Well, as a writer/performer/actor I’d been trying to write a semi-autobiographical comedy about my weird personality for ages, and then once I got an autism diagnosis – it was a real aha moment (for both my personal life and the show, but as a creative, the show takes priority…) It is based on an idea that was in development with a TV production company first, and then a short film script, and then I decided that the best way to actually get it out there in the way I wanted was to take it to the Fringe!

Shay: How has the creative process been of putting the show together? Give us an idea of the journey you’ve been on with it so far.

Abbie: It has been joyful, stressful, tiring and fun in equal measure. I wrote it up as a solo show script around December 2025 and sent it off to Fringe venues, had a slot confirmed in late January 2026, and since then it’s become what feels like a full time job! It’s been so surprising to me how a sixty minute script has required me to work on it almost every single day for five months! Who knew! But it’s been great having other creatives on board from about March and it feels like there’s a whole team behind it now. We did our first preview a few weeks ago which was super useful – I wasn’t planning on doing any previews until someone told me a show doesn’t exist until the first preview – and I now totally get what they mean. We’ve got one more preview coming up and then it will be off to the Fringe!

Shay: What will be the first thing the audience sees, feels, and hears as they enter the space?

Abbie: We haven’t fully decided on all these elements but as it stands they will likely be treated to an array of TV/Movie soundtracks, see a lovely big olive tree in the corner and hopefully feel a sense of anticipation that they’re about to see the greatest show of all time… (or the worst show of all time, then we can only exceed their expectations.)

Shay: What are you hoping the audience might take away from the experience, if anything?

Abbie: I am hoping they will laugh, cry, and even, I’m sorry to say it, learn something. I really want this show to be entertaining but also to make people think, and to raise awareness about autism in general, in particular in women.

Shay: What journey has the show been on to find itself at EdFringe 2026?

Abbie: It was born from an idea that was originally in development for TV, then I almost impulsively decided to develop it into a solo show script and submit it for the Fringe and when I heard we’d been lucky enough to get a slot, the whole thing sort of materialised from there – a lot of which has been down to the help of an amazing team around me. I’m definitely someone who works best when there is a big deadline and knowing that from August I need to perform the show everyday for a month has been a fantastic deadline!

Shay: With EdFringe now just around the corner, what are you most excited for?

Abbie: I’m excited to share the show and the story with new audiences, as my main aim in turning it into a stage show was that it gave me the ability to ‘get it out there’ myself. I’m also excited to be at the festival in general – I haven’t been up for about seven years – and it’s just such a completely unique atmosphere and any theatre maker’s dream.

Shay: Given the themes of Binge Fringe, if your show was a beverage of any kind (alcoholic, non-alcoholic – be as creative as you like!), what would it be and why?

Abbie: I’d say it would be an alcohol free beer; it’s trying desperately to be cool and to fit in with the lads, but is too pathetic to stomach even a drop of alcohol. Am I describing myself or the show? Perhaps both.

A reminder, you can catch Giraffe at Pleasance Courtyard (Cellar) from 13:45 (60mins) on August 5 -14, 16- 24, 26 – 31. Tickets are Available Through the Pleasance Box Office.