As part of 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 Norman and Aaron Nihal King about their show Come Dine With Me The Musical.
Where did your arts career begin?
We met at uni! Sam literally cold-emailed a dozen music students asking if they wanted to write a musical. Eleven of them blanked him, but luckily one said yes. We had no idea if we’d like each other’s work (or, let’s be honest, personalities), but it’s been a fantastic ride and we’ve been working together ever since.
We met at uni! Sam literally cold-emailed a dozen music students asking if they wanted to write a musical. Eleven of them blanked him, but luckily one said yes. We had no idea if we’d like each other’s work (or, let’s be honest, personalities), but it’s been a fantastic ride and we’ve been working together ever since.
Come Dine With Me is a national treasure. But what goes on behind the cameras?
Our (fictional!) musical hones in on the TV crew in a pickle. They’re shooting a milestone episode of the much-loved cooking show, but they suspect one of the contestants is sabotaging their rivals’ food. Who could it be? The Sound Guy is tasked with tracking down the culprit – but, to complicate matters, the prime suspect might just be his childhood crush.
Mix in some divas, a splash of romance and a sizzling score, and the result is a joyful musical comedy that’ll leave you craving seconds!
How would you describe the style of the show?
Big-hearted and brilliantly bonkers. It’s a musical melting pot – expect rock and roll, jazz, and the occasional ballad. Also lots of silly rhymes.
Big-hearted and brilliantly bonkers. It’s a musical melting pot – expect rock and roll, jazz, and the occasional ballad. Also lots of silly rhymes.
How have you approached developing the piece?
We obviously wanted to keep all the comedy and zaniness of the original TV show, while throwing in some theatrical spice. The result is a story of a bunch of people going on a reality show and discovering what it means to be human.
We obviously wanted to keep all the comedy and zaniness of the original TV show, while throwing in some theatrical spice. The result is a story of a bunch of people going on a reality show and discovering what it means to be human.
How do/will you prepare yourself for a run at the Fringe?
Lots of late-night rewrites, caffeine, mad panic, and profound gratitude for such fab collaborators.
Lots of late-night rewrites, caffeine, mad panic, and profound gratitude for such fab collaborators.
Other than the show, what’s something you’re looking forward to doing in Edinburgh this year?
We love new musicals, so we can’t wait to go and see every one we can sniff out. But we also love the utter barminess of the Fringe – the stand-up comics, dance pieces, art installations, street entertainment, jazz bars, whisky-tasting, the whole shebang. If we don’t end up dead on our feet, we’ll have failed.
We love new musicals, so we can’t wait to go and see every one we can sniff out. But we also love the utter barminess of the Fringe – the stand-up comics, dance pieces, art installations, street entertainment, jazz bars, whisky-tasting, the whole shebang. If we don’t end up dead on our feet, we’ll have failed.
What keeps you inspired?
The promise of a post-show pub trip.
The promise of a post-show pub trip.
What do you hope an audience takes away from seeing the show?
A gallon of dopamine, an uplifted heart, and a dozen or so earworms that you’ll be humming for weeks.
A gallon of dopamine, an uplifted heart, and a dozen or so earworms that you’ll be humming for weeks.
Where can audiences see the show?
Underbelly Cowbarn, 2:20pm, 31 July – 26 August. Feel free to follow us @cdwmmusical (plus @samcreatesdrama and @aaronnihalking) on all socials – and, most importantly, come dine with us!
Tickets are available from https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/come-dine-with-me-the-musical
Underbelly Cowbarn, 2:20pm, 31 July – 26 August. Feel free to follow us @cdwmmusical (plus @samcreatesdrama and @aaronnihalking) on all socials – and, most importantly, come dine with us!
Tickets are available from https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/come-dine-with-me-the-musical
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