“Every artist I know who’s been to the Fringe have told me they have special memories of their experience.”
WHO: Sam Ipema
WHAT: “Based on writer-performer Sam Ipema’s life, Dear Annie, I Hate You is the story of Sam and her brain aneurysm, Annie. They share the rational, irrational, nihilistic and liberating experiences of what it’s like to be told you’re going to die aged 20. Directed by James Meteyard.”
WHERE: ZOO Playground – Playground 2 (Venue 186)
WHEN: 16:50 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
Why yes it is! We’re very excited that it’s our production company’s first Fringe experience and my first play to ever write and take to the Fringe!
Some of our production team and creative team are much better versed with Edinburgh Fringe, so we feel really lucky to have them on board, showing us the ropes. And they have also pre-warned me on the absolute madness that we’re about to experience, which is all the more reason I’m excited!
Every artist I know who’s been to the Fringe have told me they have special memories of their experience. I think it’s special for two reasons. I think it’s a) being absolutely surrounded by a massive artist community for an entire month. That is any theatre-goers dream, I think. It’s a place where any show you can imagine (a quite a few curveballs) is probably happening. There really is something for everyone. And b) I really believe it’s the amount of opportunity that is available at the Fringe – many friends have had their careers started there and build relationships from it that last a lifetime. We’re excited to be a part of that community.
The difference between being a producer and a punter at the fringe, as I understand it, is pretty much the level of alcohol you can consume. Our show is pretty intense so it’ll definitely require a pint afterwards, but an early bedtime most nights as well to prep for the next day.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
Since this is my first, I’m going to just relay the advice that’s been passed to me which is this: buy lots of fruit and veggies early, because all of the clowns buy it out for their shows, and it’s hard to find any as the fringe goes on.
You’d be surprised how many times I’ve received this piece of advice…
Tell us about your show.
Gladly! My show ‘Dear Annie, I Hate You’ is a play based on my life when I was 20 and had no clue what I was doing, who I was, or what I wanted out of life….and then suddenly I got diagnosed with a fatal brain aneurysm! It’s all about the crazy experience of that time in my life and examining what makes life worth living through the reliving of these moments.
Oh, and my brain aneurysm (‘Annie’) comes in to crash the show. Much to my displeasure.
I wrote it originally as a pilot and now have developed it for the stage. Which secretly has always been how I wanted to do it originally. It’s a really packed, really darkly fun hour of chaos between myself and my aneurysm and we hope, an enjoyable one that ends on a life-affirming note for the audience to take from.
It’s received wonderful support through Soho Theatre’s Edinburgh Lab, which I am incredibly grateful to. And some really experienced, really wonderful creatives have come onboard as well.
We definitely hope it is going to find a life and tour afterwards… but we shall wait to find out where exactly that will be!
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
Oh, there are so many shows at the Soho Theatre Labs that are going to be absolutely fantastic – boy you’re in for a treat! And they were all absolutely lovely and supportive and definitely deserve a shoutout! To name a few that I really want to see:
‘A Stan Is Born’ by Alexis Sakellaris (ZOO Playground) is a gorgeous and hilarious story about queer reputation. Plus it’s a ZOO which is the most supportive, lovely venue (not that we’re biased or anything!)
‘PALS’ (Gilded Balloon Patterhoose) is perfect for any 20 something who thought the best way to escape their 20s was by going camping in the middle of nowhere with friends…
‘Main Character Energy’ (Roundabout @ Summerhall)- everything Temi creates is pure gold. Our producer raves about her performance in Land Without Dreams at The Gate, plus she wrote episodes for Sex Education, and who doesn’t love that show!
We’re also really excited to go see Gang Bang (Pleasance Courtyard), we’ve heard nothing but good things about it so will definitely be booking a ticket and cheering them on!
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