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 Victoria Oxley about Stayin' Alive.
What can you tell me about your show?
Stayin’ Alive is a one-woman dark comedy about Maggie, a sharp, flawed but loveable woman from Liverpool who, after the death of her Nan, has to confront her own mental health. With the help of Pelvis Presley, Shake That and some other dodgy tribute acts down at The Blue Anchor pub, alongside a complicated relationship with her sister and her therapist, Rob, Maggie has to understand what has led her here and learn how to ultimately stay alive.
The play is an exploration of mental health, grief and environmental limitations, told through comedy and the humour and heart of Liverpool. It is a love letter to the Nans who often help raise us and the communities that keep us going.
How would you describe the style of your show to anyone who has never seen you before?
It is a fast-paced dark comedy that constantly treads the line between laughter and heartbreak. It is highly theatrical, with quick character changes, lots of music and moments when the audience might even have to help with a couple of costume changes.
What was the lightbulb moment that led to the creation of this piece?
I wrote one of the final scenes first for a showcase I was performing in, and for a long time I was trying to work out how to turn it into a full-length play. I remember sitting on the DLR in London, which is so random, but I remember it clearly. I was listening to Pearl’s a Singer by Elkie Brooks and was instantly reminded of my Grandma. Maggie’s story then started to unravel for me, and the opening scene came to me. When you see the show, you will understand why this song is so important!
What makes 2026 the perfect year for this specific story or performance?
Not only does the play feel at its strongest dramaturgically, big word, sorry, but it also feels like the right time to tell this story. It feels as though we are living at a time when people have lost faith in many of the systems around us, and we are turning back to our communities and one another to get through it. Mental health is something so many people can relate to, and I think Scouse humour never goes out of date. It allows us to laugh in spite of ourselves, and I think that is something we all need in 2026.
How will you mentally and physically prepare for a run at the Fringe?
I am trying, but as this is my first Fringe, I know I do not really know what I am in for yet! Physically, I have been doing some running while singing, a bit like Taylor Swift does. I realised that my fitness has to improve if I am going to become Pelvis Presley and tell Maggie’s story at the same time.
Mentally, I have some brilliant friends and family who have planned to be with me at different points throughout the festival, whether that means helping me flyer or simply keeping me going on the tougher days. I also have postcards that I will give to audience members after each show, encouraging them to reflect on anything the play has made them think or feel. I am going to do the same myself after every performance. I think it will be a lovely way to check in with myself throughout the month.
If you could not use a flyer to attract audiences, what ridiculous object would you hand out to encourage people to see your show?
The tribute act wigs! I would hand them out with absolutely no explanation and let people wander around the Fringe wearing them. Although, to be honest, the wigs are so questionable that I think people would spend more time trying to work out who they are meant to be than coming to the show.
What is the one item in your Fringe Survival Kit that you cannot live without?
A sports bra. Sorry if that is too much information, but comfort is key when you are spending all day flyering, running around Edinburgh and then throwing yourself around the stage for an hour.
What would you deem a success at the end of the Fringe?
Success would mean audiences connecting with the show in the way I hope they will. If people leave feeling a little more understood, have a good laugh and tell someone else to come and see it, I would be incredibly proud.
Beyond that, I would love the Fringe to mark the beginning of the show’s next chapter, whether that is a tour, new collaborations or opportunities for me as both an actor and a writer.
Other than your own show, are there any other shows you would recommend at the Fringe this year?
Yes, I am really looking forward to seeing some shows that are completely different from my own. I am hoping to catch comedian Harriet Richardson’s Creep at the Pleasance, alongside Mario Adrion’s Live a Little and clowning duo Glob at Underbelly.
I am also hoping to finally grab a ticket for the wonderful Jade Franks’ Eat the Rich (But Maybe Not Me Mates) at Shedinburgh. She is a fellow female Liverpool creative who absolutely smashed Edinburgh last year.
What is one Edinburgh spot that you would recommend people visit when they are not watching performances?
I am still discovering Edinburgh myself, so I am probably not the person to ask for hidden gems just yet! I know I will be searching for lovely parks and views, though, and have you really been to Edinburgh if you have not climbed Arthur’s Seat?
Can you describe the show in five words?
Relatable, hilarious, heartfelt, shocking and chaotic.
What keeps you inspired?
Women. I am inspired by the women around me and the stories we carry. I love writing female characters who are complex, brave, funny and flawed. Comedy is also hugely important to me. It has always been in my bones, and what better way is there to make people listen to what you have to say than to make them laugh?
The women in my life inspire my stories through their strength, struggles, humour and the things they overcome. I want to create roles that allow women to be seen in all their contradictions because that is where the most interesting stories live.
What would you hope someone takes away from seeing the show?
I hope they leave feeling more understood. I think the play will resonate with many people and reflect the complicated relationships they have with their families.
When and where can people see the show?
Gilded Balloon, Patter House, at 3:40pm from the 5th-31st August.Tickets are available from https://tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk/event/14:7120/
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