INTERVIEW: A Digital Pint with… Max Allen, on Power, Peer Pressure and the Unspoken Codes that Govern Male Friendships

Content Warning: References to sexual violence.

We’re counting down to Prague Fringe by shining a light on a number of shows headed to the festival next week. Max Allen from Namesake Theatre joins us to talk about FRAT, a play described as a sharp, bold and dark exploration of power, peer pressure and the unspoken codes that govern male friendships. We caught up with Max for a pixelated pint to discuss what inspired the show and how it ended up heading to Prague.

You can catch FRAT as part of Prague Fringe from May 26th-30th (not the 28th-29th) at A Studio Rubín at various times (50mins). Tickets are available through the Prague Fringe Box Office.

Jake: Hi Max! Start by telling us about Namesake Theatre, what sort of work you produce and how you got together.

Max: Hi Jake! Namesake Theatre is a collective of recent LAMDA graduates who want to create our own bold and thought-provoking work. We met during drama school and once we graduated, we realised the industry was filled with mundane self-tape requests for hand cream toothpaste, or two-line parts in tv-shows buried so deep on channel 4 you’d need an excavator to find them.

So, we decided to take matters into our own hands. While we’re still doing the self-tapes, we also wanted to make work that excites us—stories that matter, that challenge us, and that give our audiences something to think about. There’s already plenty of time in a day to switch off—we didn’t want performing to be one of those times.

Jake: Frat looks at four fraternity brothers at university who find themselves facing a sexual assault allegation. Tell us what inspired the story and about the process of creating the piece.

Max: I was a member of a fraternity during my undergrad in Canada. While the story in FRAT isn’t based on a single true event, I was surrounded by horror stories—some from my own school, others from just across the border. The common thread in many of them was the fraternity system.

In the UK and Europe, most people’s understanding of frats and sororities comes from American comedies and pop culture. But I wanted to go beyond the clichés and shed light on a darker reality—the side that’s often swept under the rug. I wanted to give audiences a real glimpse into how these systems operate, why they can feel so intoxicating and fun, and how, at their core, they enable a dangerous and deeply ingrained cycle.

I wrote it for the cast involved, it was a story we all wanted to tell and with such brilliant and distinctive actors at my disposal the task of creating the play was the simplest part.

Jake: What are you hoping the audience might take away from the experience, if anything?

Max: Honestly, I just hope this play encourages thought and conversation. I’m not interested in prescribing what people should think—I see my role as a playwright as one of posing questions, not answering them. It’s up to the audience to sit with those questions and draw their own conclusions.

That said, if anyone sees a reflection of their own experiences—or even of themselves—on stage, I hope it allows them to revisit those moments with a renewed context and a more speculative, critical eye.

Jake: Tell us about how the show has ended up being performed at Prague Fringe, and what you’re most excited for about the festival.

Max: We originally created FRAT for a short run in London, but as the piece developed and the response grew, we realised it had legs beyond that. We submitted to Prague Fringe because we felt the show had something urgent to say that could resonate with international audiences—not just about fraternities, but about masculinity, group dynamics, and the rituals we inherit without question.

We were absolutely thrilled when we got accepted. It’s such a vibrant, eclectic festival, and the idea of sharing this story with a European audience—many of whom may not have direct experience with Greek life—really excites me. I’m curious to see how they respond, what lands, and what questions they leave with. And of course, I’m excited to be in Prague—it’s an incredible city, and performing there is a bit of a dream.

Jake: Given the themes of Binge Fringe, if your show was a beverage of any kind (alcoholic, non-alcoholic – be as creative as you like!), what would it be and why?

Max: FRAT would probably be a solo cup filled with jungle juice. On the surface, it’s sweet, loud, and looks like a good time—but you don’t quite know what’s in it, and if you drink too much, you’re going to regret it. That’s what the play taps into—the seductive chaos of the party, the rituals, the bonding—but then it slowly peels back the layers to reveal something murkier and far more dangerous underneath. It’s fun until it’s not. And by the end, you’re left with a headache, a few regrets, and maybe a new perspective.

A reminder – you can catch FRAT as part of Prague Fringe from May 26th-30th (not the 28th-29th) at A Studio Rubín at various times (50mins). Tickets are available through the Prague Fringe Box Office.

Image Credit: Madeleine Bloxam