Chiswick student takes play ‘Fruitcake’ to Edinburgh fringe festival

Cast of ‘Fruitcake’, written by Dulcie Johnson and Tildy Paisner, at the Tabard theatre

Five girls share a house together during lockdown …

Dulcie Johnson and Tildy Paisner are taking a play they have written together to the Edinburgh Festival for the first time.

Fruitcake is the second play they have written. Dulcie, from Chiswick, met Tildy at Bristol University, where they are both in their second year studying for a degree in Theatre, and also share a flat together.

Their cast, from Bristol University drama society, (although not all of them are studying Theatre), performed it to enthusiastic audiences over the weekend at the Tabard theatre.

It is about a group of friends, all girls, who find themselves sharing a house together during one of the Covid pandemic lockdowns. There is not a traditional story ark with a beginning, middle and end, but I’m not sure that matters.

Image: (L to R) Hattie Millard – Freya; Phoebe Taylor – Alice; Honey Gawn-Hopkins – Bea; Lily Sutcliffe – Stella; Emma Morgan – May    

“Female friendship is under-represented love”

What Fruitcake delivers is more like a fly on the wall documentary treatment, a ‘slice of life’ that provides the very recognisable dynamic of a group of girls – or women; I recognise the camaraderie from my school group and the dynamic between us is just the same fifty-odd years on.

The performance is a mix of humour, veering into hilarity, energy and fun; quiet reflection, which might be mindfulness and might just be tiredness; empathy, supportiveness and micro-aggression.

Should Freya go home to her parents to isolate there because Stella insists on going out more than Freya is comfortable with? Should Bea be offended because May wants to spend time writing with Kitty? Is it unsupportive of her friends for Stella to be spending so much time with Luke, in her first proper relationship?

Very recognisable themes which are only exacerbated as, beyond the scope of this play, members of a tight knit group of young women begin to find their independence, and with it, other interests, partners, boyfriends who become husbands, their own children and careers.

“Female friendship is under-represented love,” Tildy told The Chiswick Calendar. “It is such an important thing. Your life is your friends. Women are not written about well enough.”

The action is built around May and Bea rehearsing their slam poetry in front of the others, and not necessarily liking the feedback. There is comedy, improv, games, dancing, yoga and general banter. They wanted it to be “engaging, real and fun,” and it is.

Fruitcake will be on at The Space in Surgeon’s Hall during the Edinburgh Festival from Monday 11 – Sunday 17 August

thespaceuk.com

Image: Writers Tildy and May

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