Irish Comedian Anne Gildea on Humour, Womanhood & AI

On Thursday 2 July 2026, before taking to the stage in Luxembourg with her latest comedy show, Further Adventures in Womaning, Irish comedian Anne Gildea sat down with Chronicle.lu for an exclusive interview.

Ahead of performances organised by the New World Theatre Club (NWTC) and ahead of a special audience event hosted by the Luxembourg European Association of Performing Arts (LEAPA), Anne Gildea spoke openly about the evolution of her career, the inspiration behind her latest show and the changing landscape of comedy.

Even off stage, Anne Gildea gave the impression that she was born to perform. Expressive, humorous and genuinely interested in every topic, she reflected on more than three decades in entertainment, with memories stretching back to the hugely successful and much-loved all-female musical comedy trio The Nualas during the 1990s era of "girl power", through to her acclaimed one-woman productions exploring womanhood, menopause and social change.

Beyond discussing her upcoming performances in Luxembourg, Anne Gildea was eager to delve into a range of topics, including the impact of digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) on creativity, the importance of live performance in an increasingly screen-centred world, and why she believes comedy remains one of the most powerful ways for people to recognise and embrace their life experiences.

Chronicle.lu: You last performed in Luxembourg in 2023 with How to Get the Menopause and Enjoy It. How does Further Adventures in Womaning build on that previous show?

Anne Gildea: "I wrote it with my partner, Paul, during lockdown, and when it premiered in 2022, it just took off like a rocket. There was a real hunger for the perspective of women in my generation, particularly around menopause, because people simply hadn't been talking about it before. We toured with it for three years across Ireland, the UK and beyond. This new show grew from thinking about my mother's generation and how dramatically women's lives have changed. It looks at those shifts with humour, from growing up with television to today's digital world." 

Chronicle.lu: Before your solo career, audiences knew you as part of The Nualas. Looking back, what made that group so special?

Anne Gildea: "We were an all-female comedy musical trio, combining original songs, character comedy and harmony singing. We started more than 30 years ago and somehow captured the spirit of the time. Ireland was changing rapidly, the 'Celtic Tiger' years had begun, and at the same time there was this whole 'girl power' movement. We were these women from small farms with an international outlook, and audiences everywhere understood that story. We toured all over the world and discovered that the more specific your experience is, the more universal it becomes."

Chronicle.lu: Although the new show is centred on women's experiences, is it also for men? And what kind of audience is it best suited to?

Anne Gildea: "It's not just for women. It's for men too, because it's everybody's experience. Women can absolutely bring their husbands or partners. I would say it's a sixteen-plus show rather than something for young children." She added: "When I started writing it, I had my mother's generation in mind. Older women absolutely love the show. Women of my own generation love it too and younger women are often surprised by how much they relate to it." 

Chronicle.lu: Your work is rooted in Irish culture, yet it clearly resonates internationally. How do audiences from different backgrounds connect with it?

Anne Gildea: "We used to think our Irish accent or our stories might be too specific but we discovered the opposite. If you give people enough context, they understand. I always remember something Billy Connolly said – the more specific you are, the more universal the resonance can be. That's exactly what we found." 

Chronicle.lu: As someone who has spent decades performing live, how do you view the growing role of AI in creative work?

Anne Gildea: "I find it depressing. Particularly in comedy, AI can only mimic what's already there. Truly original comedy comes from making unique, quirky connections that only human beings can make. I can't do that. It creates something flat because it's working from what's already been created."

Chronicle.lu: Do you think AI could ever replace comedians?

Anne Gildea: "AI cannot write a joke. It just doesn't understand that magical thing that makes a human being laugh. That's why comedy remains such a special space. It depends on genuine human observation and originality."

Chronicle.lu: Why do you think live comedy still matters today?

Anne Gildea: "Getting people to laugh together leaves such a positive feeling. We all know the serious things happening in the world, but when people laugh together, it reconnects us with our humanity. That's especially important now, when so many people are isolated and constantly on their phones."

Chronicle.lu: Do you think anyone can become a comedian if they simply open up and let their funny side come through?

Anne Gildea: "I think you need to be naturally funny. The old-school expression is 'funny bones' - it's just in your bones. I'm not sure everyone has that. There are some people you meet who are simply humourless, while others have such a naturally funny take on life. You can really tell the difference."

The upcoming performance Further Adventures in Womaning will take place at the Centre Culturel de Neudorf in Luxembourg-Neudorf on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 July 2026, both days beginning at 19:30. Ticket prices are €25 for non-members, €22 for members and €18 for students, and can be purchased via the NWTC website.

For more information about Anne Gildea's work, visit https://www.annegildea.com/.