Dysfunctional sisters Sara and Saskia must confront the unpredictable stages of grief. Sara is living in denial. Saskia is determined to celebrate their mother’s death with partner Mark and a party to die for. When a jaw-dropping secret is revealed, things go from bad, to worse, to catastrophic. Hailed as a comedy echoing the best episodes of Only Fools and Horses, and sisterhood likened to BBC’s Fleabag, Lace-Evans’ smash-hit dark comedy returns to Fringe.
Would you mind giving us a brief insight into what your show/event/performance is?
Yes, We’re Related is the “deliciously uncomfortable” (Everything Theatre) smash-hit dark comedy, following two dysfunctional sisters trying to navigate grief and living with a squirrel. It’s the one-year anniversary of Sara and Saskia’s mother’s death, and Sara is living in denial after making an alliance with her furry friend. Saskia, on the other hand, is desperately trying to throw a party to die for alongside her quirky partner Mark. There are dodgy party games, disgusting desserts and one very diabolical secret… Yes, We’re Related is unpredictable, fun and of course, a little nutty. You can catch us every day at Underbelly, Cowgate (Big Belly) from 31st July-24th August at 2pm.
Tell us about the creative team and the process involved?
We are a female-led creative team championing women in theatre and comedy, with the show written by Florence Lace-Evans, who trained at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and was a part of Soho Theatre Edinburgh Labs 2024. Direction is led by Francesca Davies-Cáceres, who has worked extensively across the industry, including in-house at the BFI, as well as on productions such as Heartstopper (Netflix), Too Much (Netflix), The Greatest Showman (Disney) and Love Island (ITV). It’s also worth noting we’ve recently brought on board a new Associate Producer, Gabe Hampton-Saint, who has worked as a strategy consultant at a Financial Times leading Consultancy Firm, along with working in casting, producing and consultancy for both TV and Theatre.
Yes, We’re Related is a high-energy, fast-paced comedy show and has required months of planning and rehearsals to get the piece tight for performance. We are also quite a messy show, and it’s estimated we need 25 trifles for the Fringe… which is a lot of custard! It has been so much fun developing Yes, We’re Related from when I first performed the show in 2024 at Greenside, Edinburgh Fringe – and after various rewrites and the addition of more squirrel-related gags, we are excited to bring the show back to Edinburgh Fringe.
How does it feel coming to the Fringe?
I am thrilled to be returning to the Edinburgh Fringe, especially since Underbelly is such an incredibly iconic venue. I have visited Edinburgh Fringe over the years as an audience member before bringing my show last year, and Underbelly has always been my go-to venue for the best shows at the Fringe – so I’m slightly pinching myself that now I get to perform there myself. It also feels like a particularly special year for Yes, We’re Related, as a lot of the Edinburgh Fringe marketing campaign this year seems to be centred around animals and the Fringe team wearing animal masks – which was something we did last year funnily enough to promote the show (we wore squirrel masks along the Royal Mile, which then lead to us being known as “the squirrel show”!)
With shows from all over the world at the Fringe, what sets yours apart?
Yes, We’re Related might be the only show heading to Fringe this year that centres entirely around a red squirrel, which is very niche, but a lot of people love squirrels and this has really helped us stand out. However, I think what makes the show special is that the story is based around the theme of grief, which could be seen as a serious subject matter, but I have tried to offset this theme by placing it within a comedic setting. After our London transfer at The Other Palace, audience members wanted to talk to the cast and creatives after the show, many people felt like they could really relate to the characters on stage. Our charity partner, Sue Ryder, also agrees that the traditional ‘five stages of grief’ can be a little misleading, and a lot of people find comfort in having humour during such a painful time in their life. Our director, Francesca Davies-Cáceres, has also said the show “has made me realise the importance of light within dark, and the humour inside the absolute macabre.” Yes, We’re Related is a silly and quirky comedy show, but at its heart are three characters trying to come to terms with the pain of their grief in a very unpredictable and hilarious way.
Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will take away?
Ultimately, I hope that audience members have fun and enjoy the silly squirrel shenanigans and leave the show wanting more. The three characters within the show, Sara, Saskia and Mark, are all opposites to each other, and the way they handle their grief manifests itself in very different ways. Without spoiling too much, there are lots of twists and turns throughout the story, and one very big bombshell that gets discovered halfway through the show. The way the story ends will hopefully leave audience members with a greater understanding of how grief can manifest itself, but also want to know what lies next for these characters.
Your Ideal audience is in attendance, who’s watching? Or more importantly – who isn’t…?
I think my ideal audience would be anyone and everyone who loves dry and sitcom-style comedy. The premise can be seen as absurd, and some of the decisions made by the characters could be seen as irrational. But ideally our dream audience are people that give into the silliness, and feel like they are part of the action and in with the in-jokes. We obviously welcome everyone, and if you’re not a huge fan of squirrels, we hope to change your mind!
It’s an intense month, so where you’re able, how do you plan to relax, and are there any other shows you intend to see or want to recommend?
This is embarrassing to say, but I still have not climbed Arthur’s Seat, which feels like a sin. I’m also aware, climbing a hill might not seem the most relaxing for some, but I can really clear my mind on long walks. Naturally, everyone walks a lot whilst at the Fringe, but I always find doing something for myself in the morning, like going to a fitness class or getting a coffee and croissant, really helps me relax before a super busy day. Also, I think it’s really important to unwind after the show, so I like to head back to our accommodation and have a moment to do something like have a cup of tea before heading back out into the Fringe madness. Saying this, I love to ram in as many shows as I possibly can whilst I am in Edinburgh, and some of the shows on my list to see this year are ‘Garry Starr: Classic Penguins’ (Underbelly), ‘Enjoy Your Meal’ (Summerhall) and ‘House Party’ (Pleasance). I would highly recommend ‘Ben Goldsmith: CrimeLandTown’ (Underbelly) for a super fun mafia-themed comedy show, ‘Dear Annie, I Hate You’ (Pleasance) for a funny but heartfelt show, and ‘A Stan Is Born’ (Guilded Balloon) for a night of queer joy and killer vocals.
In your ideal world, how can we improve the Fringe, performance, and the industry?
I think now more than ever, we need to address the rising costs of the Edinburgh Fringe. It feels like a tale old as time, but the cost difference between 2024 to 2025 as a performer has been crazy, and the production costs do sometimes feel endless. Fringe theatre needs to be for anyone and everyone, and I think the way to make that happen is to continue to champion accessible productions and create more opportunities to give artists greater access to funding. Saying this, the most expensive part of Fringe this year for me has been trying to find affordable accommodation. Being a cast of three, the cost is already going to be higher, but it took me months to finally find something which wasn’t ridiculously expensive. I hope in years to come this is something which is addressed, as I have friends who want to visit me during the Fringe but their most significant barrier stopping them is finding somewhere to stay that doesn’t break the bank! However, Fringe is an amazing world-class international arts festival which is critical for fostering undiscovered talent, and this is something we need to continue to celebrate!
Yes, We’re Related runs at Venue 61: Big Belly – Underbelly, Cowgate
Photo credit – Rebecca Need-Menear
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