Edinburgh Fringe Chats (#78): Pretty Knickers Productions, MARY QUEEN OF ROCK!
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 Pretty Knickers Productions to chat more about their show, Mary Queen of Rock!
01. Can you begin by telling us about your show and what inspired it?
Our show is a fast-paced and fun musical that re-imagines the iconic Mary Queen of Scots as a rock and roll rebel kicking back against a Scotland converted to prescriptive pop and struggling to keep hold of her throne in a world full of men that want to silence her authentic voice. Mary’s whirlwind time on the Scottish throne, imprisonment and execution is endlessly fascinating and full of controversy. She was forced outside the status quo by the times she lived in and we were inspired to tell her story as a celebration of all women who dare to live out loud when the world tries to silence them.
02. What made you want to bring this work to the Fringe this year?
Edinburgh is our home city and the Fringe is such an exciting time of year when a huge, global audience of theatre, music and comedy lovers suddenly arrives on our doorstep for a month - it’s the perfect time to make something that tries something new and shows what we can do. We had so much fun bringing the first version of this show to audiences last year that it was a no-brainer to make sure we found a way to bring Mary, Queen of Rock back for this year’s Fringe and make it bigger and better than ever.
03. How would you describe your show in three words?
Funny. Feminist. Fierce.
04. What do you hope audiences take away from watching your performance?
Most importantly - that they have a really great night out and go home with our cracking songs stuck in their head! But I hope they will also feel empowered that even the most famous stories can be retold and reclaimed and we can find something of ourselves, now, within them.
05. What’s your top tip for surviving the Fringe?
Be prepared! We’re talking: raincoat, suncream, water, snacks, flyers, and all important show recommendations - a day at the Fringe can be full of so many wildly different things and if you’re ready for anything it’s so much fun to see where the Fringe flow takes you.
06. Where and when can people see your show?
We are at the Underbelly Cowbarn in Bristo Square (Venue 302) at 7.45pm every day except Wednesdays from 31st July until 24th August - we’d love to see you there!
READ MORE FROM THE FRINGE..
