Interview

What happens when one of literature’s most famous Christmas stories meets the realities of modern Britain? In A Christmas Carol Continues, Charles Dickens’ iconic tale gets an unexpected sequel, bringing Ebenezer Scrooge face to face with the continuing inequalities of the modern world. With housing insecurity, renters’ rights, poverty and the growing divide between wealth and ordinary people at its heart, this production combines sharp comedy with an unapologetic social cons

What happens when the people who are supposed to protect us become the very people we fear, and can we ever truly escape the shadows of our childhood? These are some of the difficult questions at the heart of Sharp Edges, a darkly comedic one-woman drama written and performed by Sophie Max. Inspired by Sophocles' Greek tragedy Electra, the play brings an ancient story of grief, family and retribution into a contemporary world, following Ellie as she confronts the violent expe

What happens when the American Dream comes with a sales target, a forced smile and 66 cars that absolutely must be sold before Monday? Welcome to Terry's: An American Tragedy About Cars, Customers, and Selling Cars to Customers, the absurdist comedy from BRILLIG Theatre that takes audiences into the wonderfully warped world of an American car dealership. Set over Memorial Day weekend, the show follows a motley team of salespeople desperately trying to meet their monthly targe

What happens when a child feels unheard, misunderstood or defined by a label that fails to tell their whole story? Tangled Feet’s A Class of Your Own explores the intricate realities of school exclusion, selfhood and belonging through the eyes of young people whose experiences are too often overlooked. Developed in collaboration with Creative Advisors who have lived experience of exclusion, this powerful new production combines imaginative storytelling, physical theatre and t

What happens when an ordinary Christmas Eve gathering takes a dark and sudden turn? Conor McPherson’s The Seafarer brings five men together in a Dublin home for an evening of drinking, storytelling, and poker, gradually revealing a world where friendship, guilt, and redemption collide with something far more malevolent. Marking the 20th anniversary of the play’s premiere at the National Theatre, this revival explores the extraordinary humanity below its dark humour and supern

Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson return to the stage in a riotous reimagining of one of Arthur Conan Doyle’s most celebrated detective stories. With three actors taking on fourteen characters, The Hound of the Baskervilles delivers a fast-paced combination of mystery, physical comedy and theatrical chaos, bringing a fresh and deliberately camp perspective to the much-loved classic. Produced by Bristol-founded Inner Voice Theatre Company, the production combines an enduring love

What happens when Shakespeare’s overlooked characters are given the chance to move beyond the stories that characterised them? In Understudy No. 5, a janitor finds himself possessed by a collection of minor Shakespearean characters, each having their own frustrations, ambitions and questions of free will. Blending physical theatre, inventive storytelling, as well as an original perspective on the Bard’s canon, the production explores what it means to be a supporting character

Some theatre begins with a grand idea, a historical event or a burning social question. What Would Jarvis Do? begins somewhere more unexpected: with grief, 90s memories, the music of Pulp, and a pair of very distinctive yellow trousers. Under its absurd premise, however, lies an intensely human exploration of loss, nostalgia, memory and the strange ways we try to make sense of what we can no longer have. Ahead of the production’s run at Omnibus Theatre, I spoke with the creat

Theatre has always been about imagination: transforming empty spaces into entire worlds and proving that the smallest ideas can sometimes create the biggest impact. In Only Bones, creator and performer Daniel Nodder pushes the boundaries of physical theatre, clowning and visual storytelling to create a mesmerising solo performance that explores movement, illusion and the endless possibilities of the human body. With no need for elaborate scenery or traditional storytelling, O

Ahead of this deeply personal new production of Krapp's Last Tape at The Cockpit, we spoke with director Dave Wybrow about memory, ageing, creativity, and the extraordinary experience of working alongside actor Peter Marinker. Incorporating recordings from Peter’s own earlier performances of the role and shaped in response to his recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis, this production promises to be both a powerful interpretation of Beckett’s text and a moving exploration of identity,

Ahead of bringing boobytrapped to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, I caught up with writer and performer Freddie Haberfellner to chat about creating an uplifting trans body-swap romcom, tackling prejudice with humour, and why laughter can often open doors that debate cannot. We also discussed the show's semi-autobiographical roots, balancing comedy with important conversations around gender identity, and what audiences can expect from No Tits Theatre's latest production. F

Some stories refuse to stay buried, and few writers understood that better than Edgar Allan Poe. A Ghost Among the Living breathes thrilling new life into his gothic imagination through Box Tale Soup's signature blend of inventive puppetry, atmospheric storytelling and striking theatrical craftsmanship. Ahead of this year's Edinburgh Fringe, I caught up with the creative team to discuss adapting one of literature's greatest masters of horror, crafting ghost stories for the st

Some productions make us laugh because they're absurd, while others make us laugh because they're painfully true. Bachelors of Fine Arts manages to do both, transforming the highs, heartbreaks and hilarious chaos of drama school into a sharp, heartfelt new musical inspired by real experiences. Ahead of bringing the show to this year's Edinburgh Fringe, I caught up with co-creators Riley Elton McCarthy and Hope Johansen to talk about turning their own stories into theatre, bal

Some productions entertain, while others quietly invite us to reflect on the choices that shape our lives. Ten Ways to Die Happy does both, blending humour, audience participation and thought-provoking storytelling into an experience that is different every single performance. Ahead of bringing the show to this year's Edinburgh Fringe, I caught up with writer Emanuele Aldrovandi to discuss creating a production where every audience shapes the story, why the show is really abo

Some films become more than just movies; they become treasured memories that stay with us for a lifetime. Dirty Dancer takes one of cinema's most beloved classics and transforms it into a joyous, laugh-out-loud theatrical celebration, proving that parody works best when it comes from a place of genuine affection. Ahead of bringing the show to this year's Edinburgh Fringe, I caught up with creator and performer Melissa Firlit to chat about revisiting Dirty Dancing, taking on e

Few figures in Hollywood history are as iconic, complex or fiercely uncompromising as Bette Davis. The Bloody Ballad of Bette Davis takes that extraordinary legacy and transforms it into something completely unexpected: a camp horror musical that explores fame, ageing, ambition and the sacrifices artists make in pursuit of their craft. Ahead of the show's Edinburgh Fringe premiere, I caught up with writer John P. McEneny and composer Rob Parker to discuss the inspiration behi

Life in the theatre isn't always about standing in the spotlight. Sometimes it's about waiting in the wings, prepared for a moment that may never come. The Understudy shines a witty, heartfelt and refreshingly honest light on the realities of life behind the curtain, exploring the resilience, frustrations and determination that come with pursuing a career on stage. Ahead of bringing the show to this year's Edinburgh Fringe, I caught up with writer and performer Eva Seymour to

Family history has an extraordinary way of shaping the stories we choose to tell, and DUST feels like a production born from both personal memory and a deep sense of responsibility. Ahead of bringing the show to this year's Edinburgh Fringe, I caught up with writer and director Charlaina and performer Craig McArdle to discuss the real-life events that inspired the play, preserving the legacy of Yorkshire's mining communities, and why stories rooted in one family's experience

Ahead of bringing KEVIN!!!!! to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, I caught up with co-creator and performer Nick Abeel from Recent Cutbacks to chat about transforming one of the world's most beloved Christmas films into an outrageously inventive theatrical parody. We discussed the company's signature blend of precision and playfulness, the creative challenge of parodying a comedy classic, and why Home Alone continues to capture audiences' imaginations more than three decade

When timeless stories collide with defining moments in history, theatre has the power to illuminate both in entirely new ways. Antigone 1989: A Town Hall Musical reimagines Sophocles' classic tragedy against the backdrop of the AIDS epidemic, exploring activism, courage and the fight to be heard through an ambitious new musical. Ahead of its Edinburgh Fringe run, I sat down with Elizabeth McKoy, the show's concept creator, director and producer, to discuss the inspiration beh