Sam Edmunds - The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return Edinburgh Fringe Interview

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 Sam Edmunds about his show The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return.

Where did your arts career begin?

Other than some passionate but questionable performances in school Christmas plays, my career really launched playing the lead role of ‘Simmy’ in the Butterfly Catcher for Next Generation Youth Theatre at the Brighton Fringe in 2015. We won a performance award for the play, with some great reviews, and it was my first taste of performing professionally! I got the bug then and have been following it ever since.

What can you tell me about your show?
The play is a reflection of my past, focusing on the brilliant joy of growing up in the early noughties in Luton, but also the risk of violence that surrounds young people in impoverished communities. It follows two 16 year olds trying to get booze for a house party and the wild adventure they go on to arrive at the biggest house party of the year. Amongst all of the crappy shots of gin, and fairy lights sprayed across walls like a Jackson Pollock, they encounter a series of violent events bursting from the harshness of their environment. How do young people get by in a town that has been built to repress them? From first kisses, to aggressive stand offs, the play takes you on a thrilling ride set in real time, unfolding with linguistic vigour.  

How would you describe the style of the show?

Very experimental in form. The lead character is the audience's narrator and the two other actors multi-role as everyone that they encounter across the play. It’s stylish, marrying the lights, sound, and action together in a filmic sense. The show wants the audience to be implicit in the story, to experience things with the characters and feel like they are also journeying through the play. There are some epic dance routines, and some clever set pieces that make the piece exciting and gripping. Turn up to watch a comedy, a thriller and poignant piece of theatre all at the same time!

How have you approached developing the piece?
We have been working on the piece supported by Beds Veru, a knife crime intervention unit in the Bedfordshire police, delivering work across schools in Luton to capture the authenticity of the threat of this violence to young people today. We have been collaborating with our actors and excellent cast to R&D the piece and come up with brilliant, playful ways of creating an entertaining narrative. We have also watched too many Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry videos to sharpen our dance skills. 

How do/will you prepare yourself for a run at the Fringe?
This is my third year being at the fringe so I feel a lot more prepared than normal! I think my biggest thing is just taking things moment by moment, day by day. Expect the unexpected and plan for as much as you can.

Other than the show, what’s something you’re looking forward to doing in Edinburgh this year?
I want to visit Portobello beach more! 

What keeps you inspired?

The need to tell important stories and use theatre as a tool for political conversation and change. 

What do you hope an audience takes away from seeing the show?
That the working classes are still left behind and forgotten by our government. This in turn, then leads to violence and catastrophic repercussions. Things need to change - let's unit and do it together. Also I hope they walk out feeling like the wicked night that recaptured some of their own youth and brings back that childlike self to the present. 

Where can audiences see the show?
Summerhall, Demonstration Room, 19.40pm.

You can book tickets from https://tickets.summerhall.co.uk/event/26:6437/
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