Would you mind giving us an insight into what your show/event/performance is?
Sobremesa is a short, intimate drama about two sisters, one of whom has a new boyfriend. It is set over a post-dinner sobremesa, the Spanish tradition of lingering at the table after the meal has ended. As Alma begins to suspect that her sister’s boyfriend is not quite who he says he is, the evening drastically changes course. Sober thoughts are replaced with drunken suspicions as all the conversations that should be never discussed at dinner – sex, religion, money and politics – are laid bare on the table. At its heart, Sobremesa is a love letter to sisterhood, a celebration of the power of music and dancing, and the exhilarating freedom that comes with letting go.
Tell us about the creative team and the process involved?
Table 61 Productions was named after table 61 in a Soho pub, the very spot where we spent hours agonising over finding the perfect name. It’s fitting, as so much of our work explores identity within these shared spaces, where community is at the centre of each conversation. So much of life happens over tables! We’re a close bunch, many of us meeting at drama school or university, and Sobremesa really showcases everyone’s talents: from original music, lino printing and design, choreography, videography and even some fairly questionable Spanish!
The process has been incredibly collaborative so far, with each day bringing something new and unexpected! Three of us are currently finishing our MA degrees at Royal Central, so there’s been a fair bit of juggling to get the show to where it is, but it’s been such a joyful experience. I feel very lucky to work alongside such wonderful creatives who, time and time again, pour so much love and energy into everything they do.
How does it feel coming to (back to) the Fringe?
We are all very excited! I studied at Edinburgh University, and spend a lot of time in the city, so it still feels very much like home to me. Many elements of Sobremesa were certainly shaped by my time there, and our company really started during Fringe 2024 with our show Eleanor. Since my first fringe, I have wanted to bring a show to the Gilded Balloon, so this feels like a real full circle moment for me. Between us, we’ve attended around fifteen Fringes, so while it’s a first for some members of the company, others are seasoned Fringe veterans and very excited to return!
With shows from all over the world at the Fringe, what sets yours apart?
While Sobremesa is a drama, it also combines elements of dance, comedy, music and spoken word, so as an audience member, it has a bit of something for everyone. It’s also set in a restaurant, which taps into the natural urge to want to eavesdrop on conversations you definitely shouldn’t be hearing. And we’re especially proud of our original music, written by our wonderful Stephen – honestly, that alone is worth coming for!
On that, is there anything in the production or production team’s backgrounds which influences the way the show is performed or told?
Definitely! Sobremesa explores the quieter, often overlooked ways misogyny can operate within everyday social spaces, with a strong focus on believing women’s stories. As a female-led production company, it’s essential that these issues remain centre stage in every work we create. Topics like sexual assault and victim blaming are often dismissed in social settings as “uncomfortable”, which shifts the blame back onto the victim. We all want to be unapologetic in our discussion of these important topics that affect every woman, either first hand or collectively.
Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will take away?
We want our audience to leave thinking about the quiet ways in which misogynistic behaviour creeps into our everyday life. Our show explores victim blaming, and opens up a conversation around the importance of believing women’s voices, as well as the wider ripple effects that ignoring them can have. We want our audiences to think about phrases like ‘boys will be boys’’, and how these ingrained attitudes can enable harmful behaviour while simultaneously diminishing victims’ experiences.
With Sobremesa, we will also be raising money for two amazing local charities, Edinburgh Rape Crisis Center and Edinburgh Women’s Aid. We’ll be selling tote bags throughout the run, with all profits going directly to these organisations, and so we’d love our audiences to consider supporting them after seeing our show.
Your Ideal audience is in attendance, who’s watching? Or more importantly – who isn’t…?
We’d encourage anyone over 16 to come along!. Sobremesa tackles sensitive themes with warmth, humour and honesty, showing just how uncomfortable – and necessary – these conversations can be. Our ideal audience is probably groups of young women, groups of friends who enjoy watching dramas that will make you laugh then make you cry the next. Bring your questionable boyfriend if you want an excuse to break up with him, your nice-ish boyfriend if you want him to step up, or your husband if you’d like to feel smug about your excellent choices. It’s also for lovers of dance, music, Spanish (or perhaps, Spang-lish) culture, and for anyone who has ever studied abroad in Barcelona during their Erasmus year and never shuts up about it!
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’re planning to go and swim as much as we can in Portobello and spend time in the Meadows and the Botanical Gardens. We’ve also got a few day trips planned outside Edinburgh. There are also so many amazing shows we are really excited to see! I’m particularly looking forward to catching Magazine Studio Theatre’s Trust Me I’m a Doctor at TheSpace on the Mile, Oscar Brennan’s Self Censored at Greenside @ Riddles Court, Lovelock Productions Thermodrama at Summerhall and Without Compromise Theatre Company’s Collateral Damage at TheSpace @ Surgeons Hall later in the month!
Sobremesa runs at Venue 24, Blether at Gilded Balloon Patter House
Runs: 5th – 31st August at 11:40am
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’