As part as our Edinburgh Fringe 2024 coverage we are running a series of interviews with artists and creatives that are taking part in the festival.
In this interview we speak to Katie Sayer about Love’s A Beach.
Where did your arts career begin?
I started off as the PA to a comedy producer, which was absolutely brilliant and taught me so much about the industry. Even though you’re only the person booking the taxis and making the coffee, seeing how people work who are at the top of their game is both insightful and fascinating (I remember being shocked to learn that most professional writers and comedians just use Google Docs and not anything fancy or professional!). I got to read scripts at lunchtime, and alongside my day job as a PA, I wrote in the evenings and on weekends. I was really lucky and everyone was incredibly supportive of what I wanted to do ultimately (even going as far as to let me use the office on weekends as rehearsal space when we put this play on at VAULT last year). Eventually I started getting booked for writers’ rooms as a freelance writer, and this year I wrote on my first show for my boss which was a real full circle moment.
I started off as the PA to a comedy producer, which was absolutely brilliant and taught me so much about the industry. Even though you’re only the person booking the taxis and making the coffee, seeing how people work who are at the top of their game is both insightful and fascinating (I remember being shocked to learn that most professional writers and comedians just use Google Docs and not anything fancy or professional!). I got to read scripts at lunchtime, and alongside my day job as a PA, I wrote in the evenings and on weekends. I was really lucky and everyone was incredibly supportive of what I wanted to do ultimately (even going as far as to let me use the office on weekends as rehearsal space when we put this play on at VAULT last year). Eventually I started getting booked for writers’ rooms as a freelance writer, and this year I wrote on my first show for my boss which was a real full circle moment.
What can you tell me about your show?
Love’s A Beach is a comedy about what happens six months after your five minutes of fame. It follows Ben and Cyrus – the first gay winners of a Love Island type reality show – as their status is beginning to dwindle, and the sponsorship offers are starting to run dry. Ben is happy to return to normal life – but Cyrus wants to cling to celebrity, whatever the cost. Then they get offered an influencing deal in Dubai – which drives a wedge between them…
Love’s A Beach is a comedy about what happens six months after your five minutes of fame. It follows Ben and Cyrus – the first gay winners of a Love Island type reality show – as their status is beginning to dwindle, and the sponsorship offers are starting to run dry. Ben is happy to return to normal life – but Cyrus wants to cling to celebrity, whatever the cost. Then they get offered an influencing deal in Dubai – which drives a wedge between them…
It’s an out-and-out comedy, and having a high gag rate was one of the most important things to us when we set out writing it. It’s completely character driven, and we were inspired by shows like Gavin & Stacey – where the characters come first, and the plot arises from the characters. There is a heavy element of satire in our approach to celebrity and media consumption, but the characters are the soul of the show, and ultimately we wanted it to be warm and have heart.
How have you approached developing the piece?
We first did a version of the show as a one-off performance at VAULT Festival in 2023 with no hope or expectations - we just wanted to give it a go, and be part of VAULT (which was wonderful and will be much missed). To our surprise, it had a really lovely critical reception, and we were programmed at the Soho Theatre for their Soho Rising season. We developed it with the actors at the wonderful Drayton Arms Theatre, performed it at the Soho in February, 2024, and now couldn’t be more excited to be coming to the Pleasance!
We first did a version of the show as a one-off performance at VAULT Festival in 2023 with no hope or expectations - we just wanted to give it a go, and be part of VAULT (which was wonderful and will be much missed). To our surprise, it had a really lovely critical reception, and we were programmed at the Soho Theatre for their Soho Rising season. We developed it with the actors at the wonderful Drayton Arms Theatre, performed it at the Soho in February, 2024, and now couldn’t be more excited to be coming to the Pleasance!
Bulk buying coffee and taking our thickest jumpers out of storage.
Edinburgh is such a wonderful city and we can’t wait to be there for a whole month. I’ve been to the National Gallery previously and loved it, so will definitely be making the most of all the brilliant galleries and museums (and hopefully the beaches too!). And obviously the many silent disco walking tours. Unmissable.
Seeing brilliant work by other people, and how much amazing comedy there is out there at the moment. Also the need to pay rent.
What do you hope an audience takes away from seeing the show?
We just want people to enjoy it, and to (hopefully) laugh a lot! If they also reflect on the crippling nature of modern celebrity and the commodification of human existence then that’s a bonus too.
Pleasance Courtyard, Baby Grand, 31st July – 26th August (not 13th) at 12.45pm
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