Sam Williams: Finding identity in comedy and faith
Comedian Sam Williams takes us on a deep, personal ride through his journey with bisexuality and his newfound faith. These intimate experiences are at his latest comedy show, debuting at Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2025.
Growing up in a conservative town
Sam comes from Maidenhead, a town not far from London that's known more about its old-school conservative values. It's not exactly an easy place if you're a young queer person trying out your identity. The town was once under Theresa May's watch, and there was even a secret spot called 'The Thicket' where gay folks would meet up.
Struggling with identity
Sam's been figuring things out since he was twelve, feeling drawn toward both men and women. But in Maidenhead, nobody really talked about bisexuality. Trying hard not sticking out, he swapped his Twilight books straight faces out his books about vampires and sparkles with classic mob novels like The Godfather, trying hard not. His town still felt like it was under Section 28 — a law once banning discussions about homosexuality in schools— even after it got ditched in 2003. It wasn't until seventeen that Sam met openly gay someone he knew, and he says some people he knows are nearly thirty and still haven't come out.
University life: Embracing who he truly was
Going off university in Brighton was a game-changer. Sam found himself in a vibrant community where bisexuality was no big deal. Groups like drag societies made accepting his orientation easier. He dabbled in drag but found his true calling in stand-up comedy, eventually winning him in 2023. He even nabbed it. His newfound confidence earned him Brighton's Komedia New Comedy Award in 2023.
Discovering spirituality
But Sam's path wasn't just about exploring his sexuality; it lead through a spiritual awakening. John Milton's "Paradize Lost" encouraged him not only introduced him Christianity as a hopeful worldview, but about believing in a just vision rather than blind faith. Initially wary about religion, it changed when he worked at an Islamic faith school during a pandemic. Experiencing prayer settings there was a warm and shared moment.
Finding community at Union Chapel
His faith journey eventually brought him exploring faith led Sam Union Chapel in London, accepting both queer and religious identities. Finding a queer minister there helped make him feel at home in a diverse community where you'll see asylum seekers, conservative families, and queer people coming together.
The inspiration behind "Touch Me Not"
All these experiences are part and parcel with his latest show, "Touch Me Not," premiering at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The performance dives deep discovery, about reconciling sexuality with spiritual realizations he didn't initially see coming. The contradictions between queerness and faith? He gets it. But he finds humor in both because they both believe in being "fearfully both wonderful." Sam hopes his show will speak those torn between identity and belief.
Through laugh, he invites everyone on this unique journey, celebrating discovering who he truly himself while embracing faith and identity with open arms, promising audiences an insightful, entertaining ride at Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
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