You may recall Emily Glaze's one-woman show, BASIC BALD B*TCH, a production all about alopecia which debuted at Brixton House Theatre in London in 2024. Emily's show is back and is heading to this summer's Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 

We asked Emily to tell us more...

"If you’d have told me ten years ago, when I first lost all of my hair, I’d be performing bald in front of audiences telling a deeply personal story about my life, I’d have said no chance. There’s no way. And probably ask you if it’s an April Fools or something. Because it’s taken me years to embrace having alopecia. When I tell you how long I’ve spent trying to hide the lace in my wigs, wearing towels on my head and woolly hats in the middle of summer. Terrified of anyone that looked at me for a little too long, just in case they found out.

So to be here now, preparing to go to Edinburgh Fringe this August, to tell this story to complete strangers is honestly mad."

"Over the years my hair has completely fallen out and completely grown back at least four times. A roller-coaster to say the least?! I’ve gone through jobs where no one would have known because I had a pixie or a bob. Then just as it’s started to fall out again, and I could no longer hide it with headbands or caps, I’ve unintentionally moved onto another job and started afresh with a new look. Except wigs are so expensive. I can’t stand it when people say, ‘at least you save so much money on buying shampoo!’, without knowing I’ve had to save for months and months to fork out a grand on hair.

But that’s exactly what this play aims to do: to raise awareness and educate people who know nothing about alopecia and hair loss. Whilst also finding the joy in this journey too. I really want people to leave the show feeling empowered in their own skin. To be proud of who they are. The alopecia community is amazing and I would love to see some friendly faces in the audience and have a chat, drink or bite to eat after the show!"

You can catch BASIC BALD B*TCH at Underbelly Cowgate from 5th to 30th August 2026.

Find out more about the show including how to book tickets here

Emily has set up a crowdfunder to try and cover the upfront costs of taking her show to the Fringe. 

Find out how to donate to Emily's Crowdfunder here

Photo credits

Banner image: Faye Ziegler

Stage image: Charlie Flint