"To me, that balance is what matters, and it's a real joy that this job provides me with both that balance and something I am sincerely interested in and that gives me satisfaction."

Award-winning author Pumla Dineo Gqola speaks to us about her latest book, Female Fear Factory, and how the only way for women to have a brighter tomorrow is to dismantle the patriarchy altogether. 

"Robust, accurate journalism needs to come from newsrooms which contain a range of experiences and perspectives."

“You blink, two decades have passed, and you become the thing you always despised, a three-dimensional, functional adult with reasonable expectations.”

"One of the aspects I love about being a performer is the rapport with other artists, and it’s incredible that within one city for the month of August, Edinburgh contains all the artists I admire, work with or aspire to meet. Isn’t that just magical?"

 “Learning how to programme and work in the creative arts at the same time is a unique opportunity.”

"My mum would write stories and read them to my twin brother and me when we were small. I remember her making up this epic fantasy Odyssey which, as I recall it, might be one of the greatest things ever written. But according to her she lost it. A true tragedy."

"It’s silly, sincere and heartfelt... My show is for the Ali from 2018 that didn’t know how to cope. I’d like to think if I had seen this show back then, I would have made some different decisions."

"I'm not convinced that 'cancel culture' is sufficiently coherent a concept that an exemption from it could reasonably be sought."

"Do it but only do it when you think you really have a good show. It’s too stressful and expensive to do it if you’re not really bringing something worthwhile."

"I have been coming to Edinburgh for nearly forty years now, and it never disappoints."

"While clocking up stage time is important and putting in your 10,000 hours definitely has its value, I now appreciate how important it is to set smart goals so you get exactly what you want out of each gig."