“I was super determined to be back this year because last August was one of my favourite months – what could be better than four weeks spent watching lots and lots of shows and going for drinks with new stagey friends?”
WHO: Katie Kirkpatrick
WHAT: “What would you want to say to your best friend if the world was about to end? Exploring queer friendship, platonic love and nuclear anxiety, Seconds to Midnight asks what happens in a world with no consequences. Diving into the parallels between beginnings and endings, we follow Jo and Eddie through the first seven minutes of their friendship and the final seven hours of the world. Praise for previous work: ‘A brilliant addition to the queer theatre landscape’ ***** (BroadwayWorld.com). ‘Tender and original’ **** (Skinny).”
WHERE: Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker One (Venue 33)
WHEN: 11:45 (60 min)
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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
I first came to the Fringe as a sixteen year old performing in a musical, which could not be further away from what I do now! After working on an online show in 2021, I returned to Edinburgh properly in 2022 as a marketing manager and reviewer, and every year since then I’ve ended up picking up more jobs! Last year I was directing and producing a show, as well as reviewing, and working at Roundabout. Fringe is best enjoyed when you get really stuck in!
I was super determined to be back this year because last August was one of my favourite months – what could be better than four weeks spent watching lots and lots of shows and going for drinks with new stagey friends? The atmosphere during the festival is truly like nothing else, and I’m so excited to see more fantastic shows and meet more fantastic people. That, and I’m excited for discounted drinks at the Pleasance bars!
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
One of the major things we learnt last year was the importance of befriending other companies of all sizes and levels – not only is it crucial for cross-marketing and selling tickets, but it’s how you make friends and lasting connections. We also learnt that it’s important to take time for yourself – living and working with close friends for a month is great fun, but there’s always the risk of spending a liiiittle too much time together. Seeing some shows by yourself, or going off to a gig, a lecture, a beach, or something else altogether is a great way to take a break. I’d definitely say we learnt that you can’t see every show you want to, and it’s important to pace yourself, but I can’t say I’ve absorbed that one yet!
Tell us about your show.
Seconds to Midnight originally came about from a Twitter thread recording some slightly unhinged late night chats between friends. I had been thinking for a while that there was a great play in it somewhere, but it took a while to work out how to make it into one. I was also really keen to make a show about queer friendship, as something I care a lot about but haven’t seen reflected that much in theatre, film, or TV.
I approached my co-director/producer Mati with the idea back in October, and then we went about finding a writer and a cast. From there, we did several R&D sessions, both with the cast and with groups of young queer people, to pull the script together and really find our characters. It was such a satisfying experience watching it go from a concept in my head to a real life show!
The show debuts this week at Riverside Studios in London, and then we’re off to the Fringe – it’ll be a quick turnaround, but we’re looking forward to trying it out in front of an audience before the full chaos of Edinburgh begins.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
There are so many shows we’re looking forward to catching this year! We’re especially excited about seeing new work from some of the fellow young queer companies we met last year, like Fix Your Mind by Fun Loose Screw and Ugly Sisters by piss / CARNATION – both companies that make really creative new work. Other shows from friends we made last year that we’re also looking forward to seeing include Tending – some fab new verbatim work – and Jobsworth – some sharp new writing.
We’re also excited about Instructions from Subject Object, as big fans of their previous show work.txt. Many of our team are working at Paines Plough Roundabout, so we can’t wait to see their line-up this year, especially Playfight and Bellringers. Roundabout is always such a fab hub for new writing, so you really can’t go wrong with anything there!
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