Interview: Dolly/Michael Dalton, ‘The Unburdening of Dolly Diamond’

Ahead of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024, we’re chatting with a range of creatives who will be heading to the city over August to find out more about their shows. Today we’re chatting with Dolly/Michael Dalton about The Unburdening of Dolly Diamond.

Can you tell us a bit about you and your career so far?

I’ve been doing this for such a long time and I can honestly say, I still love it. I started in the bars & clubs in London and throughout the U.K. 

It’s a baptism of fire because if they don’t like you they’ll let you know. Thankfully they did and I learnt how to control a rowdy crowd. Things were different when I moved to Melbourne and I started doing ticketed shows. It was lovely having a listening audience and it really made you focus on what you were delivering. I like both worlds now and I spend half my time in London & Melbourne, very fortunate.

What is your show about?

It’s about trying to find out what makes me happy? I’ve tried every therapy known to man and some of the unknown ones as well.

I’ve been prodded and probed and I loved every minute of it.

What was the inspiration for The Unburdening of Dolly Diamond and what’s the development process been to get to this stage?

Recently one of my friends suggested therapy (it was actually court ordered) and I thought about it and I looked at that friend (the judge), and I asked if it’s something they’d done (contempt of court), because I felt like there were a million problems staring right back at me. I didn’t ask them because I wasn’t overly keen on opening up that can of worms….(30-60 days in prison and a $10,000 fine).

But then other friends started suggesting it and I’m using the plural of friend because there were many (the jury).

What made you want to take The Unburdening of Dolly Diamond to the Fringe?

This is my 4th year and I absolutely love doing the Edinburgh Fringe. The audiences are so welcoming and I thought it would be a great place to premiere my new show to the world.

I’m working with my stunning pianist, Jens Radda (Melbourne lass). 

Jens is my onstage therapist and has studied therapy on Instagram, so I’m expecting great things.

Apart from seeing The Unburdening of Dolly Diamond, what’s your top tip for anybody heading for Edinburgh this summer?

Well you should check out Jen’s Radda’s solo show, Skank Sinatra (Assembly) and I’m a big Michaela Burger fan, she has a new show and the most hauntingly beautiful voice.

Why should people book The Unburdening of Dolly Diamond?

I know how to make an audience laugh. Now I know that’s a bloody bold statement for Edinburgh Fringe but I’m sticking by it. I chat to the audience and I love the banter you get with a festival audience, there’s always a wannabe comedian in the 2nd or 3rd row and they’re all mine.

When and where can people see The Unburdening of Dolly Diamond?

I’m at Assembly 8:40pm. Aug 1 - 25