Oil and Whiskey arrives at the Fringe with New York swagger, blending country‑rock storytelling and off‑Broadway charm in a breakup musical that’s equal parts heartache and humour. As two former lovers retrace their relationship over a few too many whiskies, the show — composed by Nashville’s Kit Nolan — turns romantic misadventure into a free, foot‑stomping crowd‑pleaser.
Would you mind giving us an insight into what your show/event/performance is?
Oil & Whiskey is The Last Five Years meets Nashville Honky Tonk. It is a country rock musical about two ex-lovers who meet for a drink and relive their entire relationship over a couple rounds of whiskey. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and by the end you’ll remember why: you DON’T TEXT YOUR EX.
Tell us about the creative team and the process involved?
Composer Kit Nolan is a talented multi-instrumentalist based in Nashville, TN. He was Lindsey Stirling’s Music Director for several years on tour and has recorded music with One Direction and Robbie Williams. Book & Lyrics Writer, Dax Wiley, is an award-winning playwright who has produced musicals from NYC to LA. Kit and Dax write music like Elton and Bernie, Dax sends Kit lyrics and Kit composes in his garage studio in Nashville. They became friends and colleagues while living in LA and started writing Oil & Whiskey in 2023 after moving to Nashville and Northern Kentucky. Director & Choreographer, Yuval Benit is a recent graduate from NYU in New York City and is an extremely talented director, choreographer, and performer.
How does it feel coming to (back to) the Fringe?
This is our first Edinburgh Fringe Festival! And we are OVER THE MOON excited! In general, festivals bring out the best in all of us: artists speaking their truth, audiences supporting amateur artists, and all the incredible community that ensues. Oil & Whiskey was a part of the NYC Fringe Festival in 2025, and we found the experience to be life changing. We made new friends, we received honest and productive feedback on our work, and we felt so fulfilled in finally performing our music for audiences of all walks of life. We also won the SOLD-OUT AWARD!
With shows from all over the world at the Fringe, what sets yours apart?
Oil & Whiskey is an authentic country rock musical written in Music City (i.e. Nashville, TN). Our cast and crew are made up of a combination of Country Singers and Musical Theatre Artists from across the U.S.A. Our music is not like a typical musical. We have intentionally written the music to feel like songs on country radio. We feel this allows audiences to extend their experience from the theatre to their bedroom or driving their truck through the countryside. Each song represents a different sub-genre of American country music, so there is something for everyone. It will make you laugh and it may also make you cry. The story is universal and no matter where you are in your romantic journey: not in love, falling in love, fighting, breaking up, Oil & Whiskey meets you in your moment and speaks to the current internal battle you are waging.
On that, is there anything in the production or production team’s backgrounds which influences the way the show is performed or told?
Our composer, Kit Nolan, has written a score that is intentionally different than popular trends in streaming music. With AI threatening the creative landscape and algorithms rewarding a “sea of sameness”, Kit wanted the music of Oil & Whiskey to sound different, to stand out and be bold.
Cornelius Versa, the actor who plays the lead role of Teddy, is also an accomplished opera singer and country singer known as The Crystal Cowboy. Because of his extensive training and love of country music, Cornelius brings a unique and authentic sound to O&W. And Levi Penley, the actor who plays the comedic Ray The Bartender, is an accomplished comedian in NYC and brings years of improv experience to the mix. (Try and guess what lines are scripted and what lines are improvised in the show … we dare you).
Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will take away?
We hope the audience takes away our central message: Good relationships can come in many forms. They can be best friends, your chosen family, and even your relationship with yourself; relationships don’t always have to be between two lovers and we should all strive to find relationships that make us happy – not do what everyone else thinks we should do. We also hope audiences will remember that if someone or something no longer fits in your story, you should leave it in the past.
Your Ideal audience is in attendance, who’s watching? Or more importantly – who isn’t…?
We want our audiences to be ready to FEEL and lean into the show as the experience will be lightly immersive. The actual setting of Oil & Whiskey is in a Honky Tonk Dive Bar in New York City. At the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, we will be performing at The Street, which is an actual bar… so characters will be singing and acting around the audience as opposed to on a stage in a proscenium style theatre. We will be hooting, hollering, doing group whiskey cheers, and may even encourage you to sing along at certain parts. While participation is completely voluntary, we think you will find it hard to resist the charms of our dynamic cast, and you might as well lean into the fact that YOU are part of the show. Who isn’t in the audience? People who don’t like to have a good time shouldn’t come (wink, wink).
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?
We have eight shows in Edinburgh from August 23-30, but even eight straight days will be a lot of work! We plan to divide and conquer as a group by sharing marketing responsibilities and chores in the University housing where we are staying. Hydrating, good food, and hopefully some good rest will be important. We would also love to know where we can get a good foot rub because we’ll be stomping around in cowboy boots all week. A show you need to go see BESIDES Oil & Whiskey is Bellina Logan’s one-woman show, Confessions of a Mulatto Love Child.
Oil & Whiskey from Kit Nolan and Dax Wiley will perform at Venue 239, The Nightclub at PBH’s Free Fringe @ The Street.
Runs: August 23rd – August 30th at 7.45pm
Interested in being featured on our Have a Gander page? With many previews and Q&As lined up, we’re always happy to chat about including your show in future articles. Please do get in touch through the contact page to feature in an upcoming ‘Have A Gander’