In our ongoing Edinburgh Fringe 2026 interview series, we are speaking to artists and creatives who are bringing their shows to the Scottish capital this summer.
In this interview, we speak with Joy Nesbitt about their show Julius Caesar Variety Song.
What can you tell me about your show?
JULIUS CAESAR VARIETY SHOW is a play about a Black actor, a woman actor, and a straight white male actor who audition for a part in Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar as an anti-immigration riot is happening outside of the theatre. These three auditionees attempt to impress a revered director set on reinventing the play in unorthodox styles - and as the audition unfolds, the actors' identities are called into the audition room and exploited for better performances.
What begins as an audition quickly transforms into a battleground. As the director, aided by an ever-present accompanist, pushes the actors to their limits, questions of identity, authorship, and representation come sharply into focus. Performers and audiences alike must confront how their lived experience shapes not only their interpretation of the roles, but also the meaning of the play itself.
How would you describe the style of your show to anyone who has never seen you before?
JULIUS CAESAR VARIETY SHOW is a dark absurdist comedy, so people should feel ready to laugh. That said, every piece of the play has been inspired by conversations and situations that I have found myself in many times as well, so it’s really a conversation starter for all of us who have been sucked into diversity and inclusion discussions at work, at home, and in life.
What was the lightbulb moment that led to the creation of this piece?
I wrote this play because in 2023, I was directing a play with an all Black cast that opened on the eve of an anti-immigration riot in Dublin. It was really shocking for all of us, and we noticed just how vulnerable we all felt in that moment amidst the absurdity of theatre people trying to navigate a riot. I drew from that experience and my experiences as an artist of color throughout my career to write something that interrogates what true inclusion looks like in our industries, especially when the far-right is on an upward trend in a global way.
What makes 2026 the perfect year for this specific story or performance?
Around the world, we’re seeing the ways in which the far right wave is trickling down from politics into our interpersonal spaces. It’s getting harder and harder for folks to identify whether you’re talking to a real person or a twitter feed, and in 2026, we all have to keep trying despite this. This play is an offer in that conversation.
How will you mentally and physically prepare for a run at the Fringe?
Watch Real Housewives of Atlanta from the beginning again.
If you couldn’t use a flyer to attract audiences, what ridiculous object would you hand out to people to get them into your show?
Golden wreaths like Julius would have wanted.
What is the one item in your Fringe Survival Kit that you can’t live without this month?
Hand Sanitizer
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| Photo by Simon Lazewski |
What would you deem as success at the end of the Fringe?
When we first did the show in Dublin Fringe in 2024, we had some folks laugh and then realize that it was probably not appropriate for them to laugh at some of the darker moments. I want that to happen in the Edinburgh Fringe. I think that’s what makes absurdism so much fun! It’s played naturally, but we in the audience can’t help but find the situation as ridiculous as it is.
Other than your own show, are there any other shows you would recommend at the Fringe this year?
So many things! The King of all Birds (by award-winning musician and theatremaker Martha Knight, I’m directing it too), Roots in Every Room, Ham Sandwiches and Discipline, The Pigeon Factory, Pink Rabbit, Notes from a Narcissistic Negro and Other N Words, Temi Wilkey: Lover Girl, and of course, my first love, Stamptown!!!!
What is one Edinburgh spot that you would recommend people to visit when they're not watching performances?
The Cheese Lounge in Morningside
Can you describe the show in 5 words?
Funny, Confronting, Sticky, Complex, Shakespeare
What keeps you inspired?
There’s this one musician, Merrick Henry, who lives in Fitchburg, Massachusetts and performs in Power Rangers costumes but he always performs full out like he’s Justin Timberlake. I just think his dedication is so inspiring. I would love to see him win.
What would you hope someone takes away from seeing the show?
I really hope Edinburgh Fringe audiences receive the play in a way that makes them laugh and also reflect on the ways in which art and the world resonate off of each other, and also, what part we have in our workplaces in not replicating the ideals we’re seeing just outside our own doors.
When and where can people see the show?
JULIUS CAESAR VARIETY SHOW by Joy Nesbitt, 6-31 Aug (not 17, 24), Summerhall (Red Lecture Theatre), 16:45 (60 mins), £10-£17.
For tickets, visit https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/julius-caesar-variety-show
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| Photo by Simon Lazewski |
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