Edinburgh Fringe Chats (#72): Maybe You Like It Productions, DOWN TO CHANCE

As anticipation builds for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025, we’re catching up with a range of exciting creatives preparing to bring their work to the world’s largest arts festival this August. In this series, we delve into the stories behind the shows, the inspiration driving the artists, and what audiences can expect.  Today, we’re joined by Maybe You Like It Productions to chat more about their show, Down to Chance.

01.  Can you begin by telling us about your show and what inspired it?

Down to Chance tells the unbelievable true story of The Great Alaskan Earthquake of 1964. It was inspired by Genie Chance, a real-life radio presenter and mother who was caught up in the second largest earthquake in recorded history and stepped up to save her community from chaos. In true Maybe You Like It style, it’s fast-paced with frenetic action and frantic multi-roling as we follow Genie and the rest of the relief effort - a rag tag bunch in the wrong place at the wrong time - as they make unimaginable choices in the face of immense challenges. 

02.  What made you want to bring this work to the Fringe this year?

There is nowhere in the world like the Edinburgh Fringe to showcase brand new work! This will be our third year at the fringe, after bringing the acclaimed Pleading Stupidity in 2023 and sell-out Sorry (I Broke Your Arms and Legs) last summer. The camaraderie and inspiration of over 3000 other shows around you, the buzz of the festival atmosphere, and the incredible audiences that are willing to take risks and explore what new artists have to offer keep drawing us back. 

Since last Summer we have become Pleasance Associate Artists and Down to Chance is an Edinburgh National Partnership show supported by the Pleasance and Theatre Royal Plymouth. It feels more and more that the Fringe is a home away from home for us. 

Ellie, our brilliant writer, has been researching and forming this show for over four years and EdFringe 2025 felt like the perfect time to share it. This story speaks to our concerns about crisis in the modern world, how distrustful people are of institutions, and the importance of people stepping up to help their community when those institutions fail us. 

Down to Chance is our most ambitious show yet in so many ways and we can’t wait for audiences in Edinburgh to see it this Summer!

03.  How would you describe your show in three words? 

Fast, frantic, thrilling

04.  What do you hope audiences take away from watching your performance?

Down to Chance is an unbelievable true story of courage, motherhood, community, and the moral responsibility of journalists and politicians in a crisis. We ask our audience: how much information should those in power share with the public? And what do journalists really owe their listening audience? At a time when communication is instantaneous we are forced to ask not if information can be shared, but if it should. 

05.  What’s your top tip for surviving the Fringe?

Wear comfortable shoes - your step count is about to go through the roof! 

Nile Valley does the best wraps in Edinburgh. The queue is long but it is always worth it to soothe your soul.

Take time to get out of the centre of town - climb Arthur’s Seat and visit Portobello Beach.

06.  Where and when can people see your show?

You’ll find us at Beside, Pleasance Courtyard, every afternoon at 2:10pm (excluding the 12th August when we’ll be asleep!)

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