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 writer and director Sam Dinnage about his show Spare Room.
What can you tell me about your show?
Set entirely in the living room of a house share, Spare Room follows Jodie as she leaves her troubled home in search of a fresh start. Inspired by true events, the play offers a darkly comic portrayal of student life, as Jodie navigates living with a house full of testosterone-fuelled uni lads shaped by drug and alcohol culture. What initially appears to be a comedic exploration of familiar student struggles gradually unfolds into a far darker narrative, exposing the often misogynistic and hostile nature of male group dynamics.
Set entirely in the living room of a house share, Spare Room follows Jodie as she leaves her troubled home in search of a fresh start. Inspired by true events, the play offers a darkly comic portrayal of student life, as Jodie navigates living with a house full of testosterone-fuelled uni lads shaped by drug and alcohol culture. What initially appears to be a comedic exploration of familiar student struggles gradually unfolds into a far darker narrative, exposing the often misogynistic and hostile nature of male group dynamics.
How would you describe the style of your show to anyone who has never seen you before?
A naturalistic modern dark comedy with relatable characters and themes. Think 'Fresh Meat' meets 'Adolescence'. The entire action of the play takes place within the living room of a student house-share so it definitely has a ‘sitcom- like’ feel to it with some darker twists in the narrative.
What was the lightbulb moment that led to the creation of this piece?
I think it was seeing the lack of education and awareness around consent that really drove us to initially write this piece. When people hear the word ‘rape’, they often think of the most extreme cases that you might have seen in films or television shows. However, rape and sexual assault is much more complicated than this and we wanted to shine a light on what is unfortunately a very common tragedy that many people have experienced. We believe that through the power of theatre and storytelling we can create better consent education for all in the hopes we can provoke real change.
What makes 2026 the perfect year for this specific story or performance?
Right now feels like a very hostile time regarding the idea of ‘masculinity’ and the sexism that we are seeing throughout society. Shows such as 'Adolescence' and 'Louis Theroux: Into the Manosphere' helped to spread awareness of the dangers of internet culture and the harmful messages being consumed by young men globally. Our play highlights the dangers of these attitudes on both men and women at a time in their lives where they have moved away from home and are trying to find their place in the world. Life can be tough for young people when they are not too sure what they are supposed to be doing with their lives apart from drinking and partying. There is a strong feeling amongst university graduates that there are no jobs and opportunities out there for them. Our play explores these issues and the effect that it can have on people’s mental health and self-worth.
How will you mentally and physically prepare for a run at the Fringe?
I’m not too sure if anything can fully prepare you for the craziness of the Fringe! However, we are already working hard in rehearsals, having positive discussions and working together as a team to ensure we are making progress and enjoying the work. We’ll try our best to sleep well, stay calm and stay well fed and hydrated during the lead up to the Fringe!
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?
Free bags of Monster Munch! You’ll understand when you see it!
Free bags of Monster Munch! You’ll understand when you see it!
What is the one item in your Fringe Survival Kit that you can’t live without at the Fringe?
Coffee.
What would you deem as success at the end of the Fringe?
Just the feeling that we were successful in giving audiences the show that we have always dreamed of giving them. A West End transfer or a TV contract wouldn’t be frowned upon either!
Other than your own show, are there any other shows you would recommend at the Fringe this year?
Yes! Any of the shows being produced by Blue Orange Arts! Two of their shows this year are ‘The Signalman’ and ‘Sherlock Holmes: The Speckled Band’. They are Fringe specialists, always selling out for their captivating adaptations of classic shows.
What is one Edinburgh spot that you would recommend people to visit when they're not watching performances?
I would definitely recommend a walk up to the top of Arthur’s Seat! The views are amazing!
Can you describe the show in 5 words?
Relevant, bold, shocking, relatable, moving.
What keeps you inspired?
The idea that there are always new minds to inspire with the show, every single audience member will be affected by it in their own unique way.
What would you hope someone takes away from seeing the show?
That they are not alone.
Spare Room runs at the Space 1 at theSpace on the Mile from Friday 7th until Saturday 22nd August 2026. For tickets visit https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/spare-room
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