In our ongoing Edinburgh Fringe interview series, we are speaking to artists and creatives who are bringing their shows to the Scottish capital this summer.
In this interview, writer Bailey Swilley discusses their show Gimme A Sign!
What can you tell me in your words about your show?
Gimme A Sign! is about trying to live up to your family’s expectations, living with grief and learning how to stand on your own two feet and trust yourself. It’s also full of unexpected stories about growing up mixed-race and being a tiger gurlie (daughter of a tiger parent).
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Where did the inspiration for this piece come from?
Creating Gimme A Sign! was a form of catharsis for me—a way to remember my dad and cope with his unexpected passing.
How have you approached developing the show?
I’ve been working on Gimme A Sign! for a year now. In earlier iterations, it was a little more bare-bones—a very intimate storytelling show. In 2025, I brought on a director, one of my favorite comedians, Tim Dunn, and we worked to make it more visual, more theatrical.
How would you describe the style of the show?
My show takes you on an emotional journey. It’s a story told in three acts, and even though it’s about death and family, it’s full of funny anecdotes and jokes about growing up millennial. There’s a handmade vibe to the show as well… it makes you feel like you’re reading through my cute, little scrapbook. It’s a scrapbook with jokes!
Can you describe the show in 3 words?
Nostalgic, witchy, sweet
How do you mentally and physically prepare for a run like the Fringe?
You can never be fully prepared for something as intense and massive as EdFringe. Every day and show is different and you never know who you'll meet. But the thing I return to again and again is the importance of connecting with the audience—I want to keep that as my goal above anything else.
Away from your show, what are you most looking forward to about being in Edinburgh?
It's so friggin sweaty-butt hot here in the U.S. right now. I am looking for that sometimes cool/sometimes gloomy/sometimes sunny weather, as well as the absolutely gorgeous outdoor spaces that Edinburgh has to offer, like Princes St. Park, Holyrood and Arthur’s Seat, and The Meadows, just to name a few.
What is one hidden gem in Edinburgh that everyone should visit?
The best way to start the day is with a coffee and pastry at Old Woods Cafe—everyone there is so nice. Oh! And Black Moon Botanica for candles, oracle cards and any other things you need to be a bad witch. I got a ghost candle there last year to commemorate my show.
Are there any other shows at the Fringe you’d like to recommend?
Come see my NYC buddies: And All That Jazz by Gillian Gurganus, Three White Guys Named John by Andrea Coleman and Man Enough by Bryan Berlin!
What was the first piece of theatre you saw which had a big impact on you?
When I was a really young kid, I saw a children's theatre production of The Music Man. I don't think I necessarily understood the show, but I was wildly jealous of the kids onstage and desperately wanted to be up there too. Years later, I saw the musical Annie and instead of being absolutely Shrek-green with envy, I was just in awe of everything: the singing, the choreography, the red curly wig!
What do you hope an audience member takes away from seeing the show?
Embrace your life and those who are in it! Whether you have lost a loved one or not, this show is about accepting yourself and enjoying the life you've got, despite the grief and sadness that we run into along the way.
Where and when can people see your show?
1-23 August 15:05 in the Fern Studio at Greenside - George St
Tickets are available https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/gimme-a-sign
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