Timandra Harkness
Presenter, Writer & Comedian
On Stage

I followed my dream of performing on the flying trapeze, only to learn the horrible truth: the more I pointed my toes the harder people laughed. Since running away from the circus, I have written and performed comedy, first improvised, then stand up, and more recently with a leaning towards science, technology, and mathematics.

I took a new show about risk to the 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Called Take A Risk, it now feels more relevant than ever.

My previous solo* show, Brainsex, got 4 star Fringe & touring reviews in 2013-15. Watch the Edinburgh version here. Other recent shows include Your Days Are Numbered: the maths of death (with Matt Parker) which toured the UK and Australia after being a surprise 4 star hit on the Edinburgh Fringe, and "disturbing cabaret" Science Burlesque, which brought Cheltenham Science Festival its first Hen Party.

Previous science comedy collaborators include Dr. Helen Pilcher, with whom I founded the UK's first science comedy double act, and Dr. Harry Witchel, with whom I took 2 shows to the U.S.A.

Before turning to stand up I also performed street shows, co-devised and performed visual theatre, & toured as a clown with a tented circus. I even appeared on TV in an award-winning petfood advert, though the all-concealing cat costume means you probably didn't recognise me.

*apart from Socrates the rat