Edinburgh Fringe Chats (#43): Thomas Currie, BASICALLY NOCTURNAL

1 Jul

Conducted by Emmie for Theatre and Tonic

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 Thomas Currie to chat about the show Basically Nocturnal.

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

Well… I don’t sleep. I’ve always said that if mornings started at 9pm, then I’d finally be a morning person! Basically Nocturnal is an intimate blend of music and storytelling— it’s witty, funny and heartfelt. On stage, it’s me singing and playing the piano, joined by an electric cellist who creates live soundscapes that weave through the music.
It’s inspired by the kinds of thoughts and stories that surface when the world gets quiet. When I was living in Australia, I’d stay up with friends until sunrise—not out partying, but instead sharing stories. Everything from dreadful dating disasters to the guy who swore a ghost lived downstairs. That mix of humour, honesty and connection—that’s exactly what we try to capture on stage.

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

I originally created Basically Nocturnal for the Melbourne Cabaret Festival in 2021. It had a great run and was set to tour, but the COVID resurgence meant several performances had to be cancelled. So bringing it to Edinburgh feels like unfinished business—and the perfect next chapter. Fringe is all about storytelling. It’s a festival overflowing with creativity and expression, all in one place. That’s what makes it so special—and why this show, built on storytelling, feels right at home there.

How would you describe your show in three words?
Funny, classy but a little bit cheeky.

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

In a world where we spend more time looking at screens than at each other, Basically Nocturnal is a gentle reminder of how powerful real human connection can be. It’s an evening of music and stories—reflections on people, life, and all its quirks.

There’s something magical about sitting in a dark room with strangers, all sharing the same moment. If audiences feel like they’ve laughed, been wrapped up in the moment and more energised as they walk out of the theatre — then we’ve done our job.

What’s your top tip for surviving the Fringe?
For performers: pace yourself! You want every audience to experience the same energy—whether it’s night one or night twenty.
For audiences: go big or go home. See as much as you can, sleep later! Definitely become basically nocturnal while you’re at the festival!

Where and when can people see your show?

I’ll be playing at the Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose (Blether) from July 30 to August 25, every night at 9:40pm (except Tuesdays). Come along!