Edinburgh Fringe Chats (#98): Jasmine Alice, NEARLYWEDS
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 Jasmine Alice, the writer and director of Nearlyweds.
1. Can you begin by telling us about your show and what inspired it?
I initially wrote ‘Proud’ (a song which features in the show) when I lived in Gran Canaria. I composed it as a stand alone piece but after sitting with it for a few months, I felt like it needed a ‘home’.
Taking inspiration from quirky, eccentric characters I’ve met throughout my life, I started writing a script, just for fun. It was only when I finally finished the score and started showing friends the songs, that people started getting excited to watch it and were even getting the songs stuck in their head.
After writing the full version of the show, which included an (eye-rollingly) amount of silly jokes and puns, I condensed it down to a fringe sized script, partnered with a producer and started the casting process.
There are definitely elements of my life and own experiences thrown into the show and there have been moments in my life where I have been every character in the show.
In Nearlyweds, we follow Lily, a people-pleasing Scottish bride as she runs away from her wedding, and Jake, an arrogant, jilted groom whose life isn’t as glamorous as it seems. Along the way they meet an array of vibrant characters each with weird quirks and have hilarious scenarios to overcome. Will Lily learn to stand up for herself and will Jake finally stop the awful puns? You’ll have to come and see it to find out.
2. What made you want to bring this work to the Fringe this year?
When somebody tells me something is impossible, I simply have to give it a go!
I had the idea to bring it to Edinburgh Fringe for 2025 back in December 2024, just after I had finished the first draft. A few people told me that it was too ambitious and we wouldn’t be ready in time however I had faith that we could pull it off and I even added a London preview in June just to add an extra challenge. Brave or bonkers? I’ll let you decide. Thankfully, it was a great decision as we sold out and received 3 glowing reviews, so now we definitely feel ready to hit the Edinburgh fringe stage.
3. How would you describe your show in three words?
Ridiculous, exciting and heartwarming.
4. What do you hope audiences take away after watching your performance?
The programme…and a stitch from laughing so much! Oh, and a deeper understanding and newfound appreciation for the complexity of human relationships alongside the ability for all of us grow significantly from our mistakes, naturally…but mainly the programme.
5. What’s your top tip for surviving the Fringe?
When you finally feel like you’ve seen enough shows, book one more!
6. Where and when can people see your show?
11-23rd August, 12:45pm at Fleming Studio, The Space @ Surgeons Hall
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