THE last time Scarborough musical comedy upstart Charlotte Brooks performed in York, she was "having lots of fun with sheets" playing a nurse in Blood + Chocolate on the streets of York.

That was in her York College days studying for a B-Tech in acting in 2013, and this weekend 22-year-old Charlotte returns with her 50-minute debut solo show, Who's To Say, part of The Basement programme for the Great Yorkshire Fringe on Saturday and Sunday.

Explaining the title, Charlotte says: "It’s a big old mish-mash of songs and chat. A lot of the songs take a judgemental stance and then I feel bad because who am I to judge anything or anyone? I think I just have a lot of questions and an abnormally indecisive nature! Is my show comedy? Apparently. But who’s to say?"

Born in Wakefield, Charlotte moved to Scarborough at the age of four and has a very vivid memory of her early stage encounters. "In my third Nativity Play, I played King Herod; I would have been six or seven and I was definitely scene stealing! The first two years I'd been a shepherd. Boring!" she recalls.

"I think this might be me being big for my boots but I soon realised I wasn't going to be an international gymnast or Prime Minister, but I remember the teacher saying I know you want to be Mary, but I feel you could really do something with Herod, and she was right!"

The young performer was up and running, joining the Stephen Joseph Theatre Youth Theatre in 2004 and performing in artistic director Chris Monks's SJT productions of The Snow Queen, Carmen, Soul Man and The Schoolmistress.

Move forward to 2018, with Charlotte now living and working in London. "I'm still really at the beginning of this process, though I've always written songs," says Charlotte, who learnt piano from a young age, studied at the Academy of Live and Recording Arts in south London and now draws comparison with the whimsical songcraft of Tim Minchin and the late Victoria Wood.

"My parents, Cindy and Steve, are both musicians who, before I was born, played the working men's club around Yorkshire; my dad plays piano and is a full-time musician and teacher; my mum's a singer. Last year she said, 'this is my last show', but I fear she'll be back!!"

Why write comedic songs, Charlotte? "When I started, I never set out to do comedy; it just seemed to happen by accident, but each songs is fuelled by strong emotions. I'll start writing a 'genuine' song, but it always ends up funny!" she says.

"I've always wanted to entertain people when things around me aren't happy; I feel the need to try to make people feel better, but I've never thought of myself as a comedian but as a musician who writes humorous songs."

Hear those songs – The Easter Bunny's Lament, Theresa, Gluten, Netflix et al – in York this weekend.

Great Yorkshire Fringe presents Charlotte Brooke: Who's To Say?, at The Basement, City Screen, York, on Saturday and Sunday, 4pm. Box office: 01904 500600 or at greatyorkshirefringe.com.

Charles Hutchinson