“We’ve learnt to really embrace the good, the bad and the slightly inconvenient.”
WHO: Cerys Baker
WHAT: “In a South London police station, Candi relives her recent love affair. Tinder date anecdotes, a trip to Thailand, a dodgy threesome… Candi has much to share as she enters a new phase of her life. Catapulted into a whirlwind of lust and bad decisions, the sweetness of new love turns sour as Candi loses sight of herself. Written and performed by Danielle Scott, this intimate semi-autobiographical drama comedy is a hilarious, candid take on gaslighting, control and power in modern relationships. Sour Candi is a rollercoaster ride of red flags and a cautionary tale of blind love.”
WHERE: Just the Tonic at The Mash House – Just the Cask Room (Venue 288)
WHEN: 13:05 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
Yes! This will be both In a Pickle Production’s and the ‘Sour Candi’ team’s first Edinburgh Fringe. I worked as AD on ‘Olives and Blowjobs’ for its Fringe run back in 2022 at The Space, but wasn’t able to come with the show at the time, so as you can guess, I can’t wait to get stuck in and begin our run and Fringe journey. Like many theatremakers, taking a show to Edinburgh has been on my bucket list for some time and ‘Sour Candi’ is just the most wonderful, unique play (based on a true story, which makes it all the more heart-wrenching) that I really think audiences will connect with and hopefully find both engaging and educational. Edinburgh Fringe is a special, diverse festival that celebrates live performance in all forms and is a fantastic way to showcase your work to audiences from all over the world, alongside the fact that it looks like a total blast for both artists and punters.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
Having not been to Fringe before, I do feel like I have been unknowingly prepping for this for a long time, especially after completing runs at previous Camden Fringe festivals. In the past year, we started development on ‘Sour Candi’ following Danielle’s self-directed run at Camden Fringe in 2023 (Hen and Chickens Theatre), which included a lot of script re-writes and workshopping. This was a really rewarding process, Danielle has been a dream writer/performer to work with and has always been incredibly open with allowing us to develop her work. In a Pickle Productions is now a fully formed company, which has allowed for us to produce the show independently. This alone has brought with it many opportunities for growth, as with producing and directing any show, there have been obstacles but we wouldn’t be where we are now without them. Keeping on theme with ‘Sour Candi’, life sometimes throws you curveballs and we may make the ‘wrong’ moves, but this in turn helps to further build resilience and understanding of how to tackle issues that come up. We’ve learnt to really embrace the good, the bad and the slightly inconvenient.
Tell us about your show.
‘Sour Candi’ is a new solo show, taking audiences on a rollercoaster ride of red flags, dating mishaps and lessons in love. Inspired by truth, it tells the story of one woman’s experience of before, during and after an emotionally abusive relationship, following Candi as she navigates her journey to acceptance, healing and freedom. It is candid, humorous and hard-hitting, blending comedy with drama to tell a complex, layered account of the erosion of trust in a relationship that is not quite what it seems. The show really delves into how easily someone can be swept up by love-bombing and coercive behavior, highlighting the manipulation tactics (of course, this can happen to anyone by anyone, but in this show we focus on a male-female relationship) used to ensnare women into toxic, un-balanced relationships. One of my aims for this show is to really connect with our Fringe audiences and get the message out there that this can happen to anyone, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and you are not alone. This is a story of survival and self-discovery that I anticipate many people will relate to, sadly. Danielle Scott is both writer and performer of ‘Sour Candi’, she is an absolute powerhouse and incredibly brave for sharing her story. I am directing and producing, working alongside my brilliant AD, Soeren Wellens (a key member of In a Pickle Productions). I was connected with Danielle through a mutual friend. At the time, she was looking for a director to come onboard and help develop the show, with the intention to take it to Edinburgh. I was immediately captured by her story and wanted to help to elevate it to the highest level, I just saw so much potential in both Danielle and her work. Most importantly, we work incredibly well together so I am happy to say my instincts were correct. This has been nearly a year in the making! I really see a fruitful future for ‘Sour Candi’ and intend to keep going after Edinburgh in the hope of eventually touring and implementing outreach and participation opportunities that allow for us to work with our audiences directly. Hopefully, this is just the beginning.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
I’ve tried to keep tabs on some of the awesome shows coming to Fringe, but also can’t wait to explore once we are there! Theatre-wise, I am excited to see ‘FREAK OUT!’ by Coin Toss Collective, ‘Is the Wifi Good in Hell?’ by Lyndon Chapman, ‘Identities’ by Close to Home Productions and ‘Yoga and Sex…for women over 40’ by Kathryn Haywood, to name a few. I’m just excited to see some amazing, vibrant, whacky shows and take in all of the talent that Fringe has to offer! I’m also going to try and catch Patti Harrison’s ‘My Huge Tits Huge Because They Are Infected NOT FAKE’ (like, what a name!!) because I missed out on her run at Soho Theatre recently.
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