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 the team behind Heart Beats Strong.
What can you tell me about your show?
It’s a coming-of-age story following three boys from their childhoods up to their 18th birthdays. It explores sexuality, cultural identity and violence in adolescence; it's like watching 3 one-man plays that are fueled by dance, music and cinematic handheld lighting, and it’s only 55 minutes!
How would you describe the style of your show to anyone who has never seen you before?
It’s difficult to narrow it down cause there’s a lot of comedy in it but then there’s the dance and the tear-jerker moments too. If I were to compare it, I’d say it’s like if Chewing Gum Dreams was told by a teenager in the Adolescence school - and Hofesh Shechter was their dance teacher.
What was the lightbulb moment that led to the creation of this piece?
Well, 3 years ago today we were sitting in a café, 1 week away from a scratch night we’d signed up for, trying to form a show out of dozens of skits, poems and improvised dance moments. It felt impossible, and after a long while we began to admit, one by one, that the problem was we didn’t really care about any of it. In a pit of despair and dread for what we would perform a week later, we gave ourselves the challenge ‘write something you’d be scared to say out loud’ and we did.
What makes 2026 the perfect year for this specific story or performance?
‘Masculinity’ has come to be at the forefront of people’s minds and we happened to have made a show that gives an insight into the questions people are asking. Telling it from young men’s perspectives sheds light on the roots of some of these questions, and is a new perspective that we think is needed now more than ever.
How will you mentally and physically prepare for a run at the Fringe?
Lots of hugs, a couple calls with our (respective) mums and learning how to meal prep.
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?
A small, aggressive monkey that’s emotionally attached to us and will fight them until they come to our show.
What is the one item in your Fringe Survival Kit that you can’t live without this month?
A chunky waterbottle
What would you deem as success at the end of the Fringe?
1 million British Pounds
Other than your own show, are there any other shows you would recommend at the Fringe this year?
Would really recommend Sitting In Silence and They're Just Small Town (Northern) Lads, both at Summerhall and both genuinely really touching, and we’re really excited to see Trans People Are Awful at Pleasance Courtyard, Bunker One. Also Thermodrama at Summerhall looks great!
What is one Edinburgh spot that you would recommend people to visit when they’re not watching performances?
This is our first time at Fringe and in Edinburgh so probably that beautiful hill they sat on in One Day.
Can you describe the show in 5 words?
Fresh, Raw, Cheeky, Sharp and Cinematic
What keeps you inspired?
Each other. This piece has been three years in the making; we now live together, write together, rehearse together, shower together and STILL are completely inspired by what each of us create.
What would you hope someone takes away from seeing the show?
Anything. We’re so excited to meet people in the bar after the show and hear the conversations, laughs and feelings that it might have brought up. The show is such a HUGE picture of the questions you ask and the feelings you have when you’re a teenager so the take-aways feel endless.
When and where can people see the show?
Pleasance Courtyard, Bunker Two at 12:20pm baby!!
Tickets are available from Heart Beats Strong | Edinburgh Festival Fringe
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| Photo by Suzi Corker |
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