” After everything that’s happened we strongly believe in ‘leaving it all on the stage’ in both the shows but also just generally in life.”
WHO: Ellora Kamineni
WHAT: “Written as a love letter to brown girls, Coconut is a one-act, one-actor play that tells the story of a slightly lost, slightly confused, incredibly chaotic brown girl doing things (and people) that none of the aunties would approve of. Through talking about fit white boys, the perils of day drinking, and how not every brown girl dreams of being a doctor, Coconut is funny, heart-wrenching, and relatable for everyone… except maybe our parents.”
WHERE: theSpace @ Niddry St – Studio (Venue 9)
WHEN: 12:05 (50 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
Yes, and we’re equal parts thrilled and terrified!. Edinburgh Fringe is kind of the mother of all fringe theatre and it’s such a challenge to take it on, especially as new theatre company debuting new work! None of us have even stepped foot in Scotland before, so, aside from our extensive research (read: obsessively watching Ed Fringe vlogs on YouTube), we’re not quite sure what to expect!
We cannot wait for people to see Coconut and fall in love with (or heavily despise – we’ve had mixed reactions) the titular character, but I think the thing that we’re MOST excited about, aside from sharing our baby with the world, of course, is connecting with other creatives and getting inspired from all the weird and wonderful work out there!
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
The entire Coconut team is quite new to theatre outside of a university setting and since 2022, we’re still trying to find our feet post-pandemic. After everything that’s happened we strongly believe in ‘leaving it all on the stage’ in both the shows but also just generally in life – if we don’t try our absolute hardest to put on the best show possible and fully go for it in every sense of the word, what’s the point!?
Tell us about your show.
Okay, so Coconut is about a brown girl who struggles to accept her culture and is a bit of a disappointment to her family. She’s also incredibly chaotic, slightly selfish, makes only bad choices, only dates average white men, and doesn’t really know what she’s doing in life (mum if you’re reading this, it’s NOT autobiographical). Think ‘Never Have I Ever’ meets ‘Fleabag’.
At Fringe we’re running almost every day from August 4th-26th (excluding 6th, 13th, and 20th) at various venues with theSpaceUK!
The creation of the show is a bit embarrassing, but I’ll be honest – I wrote it, I’m producing it, and the theatre company came together because at that time I had absolutely no network in the theatre industry so I PESTERED my non-theatre friends until they accepted roles (they’re doing wonderfully in them though!). I’m currently a student and this time next year I’ll likely be about to start a real adult job full-time (exciting! scary!) This Fringe is the first and probably last time I’ll ever have the entire month of August free, so it’s kind of now or never!
The production has had a short staged reading in London in preparation for Edinburgh but that’s it – we’re debuting at Edinburgh Fringe! We also have no idea where we’re taking her afterwards but we’re currently looking for opportunities to bring her back with us to London or take her on tour!
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
Oh I love plugging my friends (and a few people that I don’t know who’s work looks incredible), right here’s a list!
‘Jingle Street’ and ‘On Your Bike’, by Chordstruck Theatre Co and both co-written by the wonderful Joe Venable, who is quite possibly the wittiest lyricist in the country (I’m not joking)!
‘Paper Walls’, ‘All The Glorious Moments Inbetween’, ‘Dead End Job’, and ‘Park Bench’ by QMTC – they’re an absolutely lovely bunch of people and what I’ve seen of the shows they’re bringing so far is incredible and I can’t wait to watch!
‘Clementine’ by Rosalie Minnitt, an absolute comedy QUEEN who has created this absolutely absurdly hilarious regency-era character who really just wants the regency equivalent of a boyfriend (I feel you sis)
‘Dusk: A Bite-Size Love Story’: a twilight parody musical? sign me up. #TeamEdward (I’m NOT sorry)
‘Come Die With Me’: a musical + a murder mystery + a reality show (the three best things on the planet all rolled into one show)
‘Showstopper!’: it’s an improvised musical – saw them at West End Live and I’m immediately obsessed!
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