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 Joslyn DeFreece about TWITCH.
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| Photo by Joseph O'Malley |
What can you tell me about your show?
TWITCH is a poetic journey into the depths of what it means to be lonely. I portray Pam, a woman who desperately searches for her missing son, Doug. As she follows clues to solve his disappearance, she interacts with a range of individuals, all of whom I also portray by shifting my physicality and vocal patterns. Ultimately, it’s a show that is filled with grief and loss, but it’s also quite humorous.
What was the lightbulb moment that led to the creation of this piece?
When I first teamed up with TWITCH’s playwright Liliana Padilla and director Jack Ferver in 2022, TWITCH was actually written for a cast of six. I was brought in as a last-minute replacement to portray Pam in a staged reading, and I immediately fell in love with the character.
Three years later, producer George Strus reached out asking if I’d want to work on a new version of TWITCH completely reconfigured as a one-person show centering Pam’s journey. Of course I was one hundred percent in, and that’s the version of TWITCH I’m performing at the Fringe!
What makes 2026 the perfect year for this specific story or performance?
In a time when people are increasingly lost in their phones and virtual worlds, loneliness seems to be as universal an experience as ever. TWITCH explores how loneliness can amplify somebody’s despair and portrays the pain and brutality of being honest with oneself in the process.
On a very personal level, as an actor who is trans and lives life outside the binary, it is so empowering to play with gender in a world that seems to demand that I am quiet. Especially in 2026, as trans people face increasing public scrutiny and silencing, I am so grateful to be collaborating with others to bring this powerful story to the stage.
What would you deem as success at the end of the Fringe?
I think success at Fringe, for me at least, will look like audiences walking away impacted by the piece. Pam’s journey is an intense one, and I am excited for others to bear witness to her stories.
Other than your own show, are there any other shows you would recommend at the Fringe this year?
I recommend STEVE BURNS: ALIVE by Steve Burns and Matthew Freeman and BLIZZARD by Piotr Sikora – two very different shows, both of which moved me!
Can you describe the show in 5 words?
Honest, playful, surprising, moving, powerful.
What would you hope someone takes away from seeing the show?
People will walk away from TWITCH having witnessed a huge range of Pam’s emotions and grief throughout the play, and I hope that her journey sticks with audiences. Specifically, though, I hope that somebody who needs to see this show, will. While this is a show that explores loneliness, I do believe that it has the power to make people feel less alone.
When and where can people see the show?
TWITCH plays at Clover - Underbelly Bristo Square from now through August 30th (no Aug 15) daily at 18:55 PM.
Tickets are available from https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/twitch
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