Jake Mace
Róisín Sheridan-Bryson is the writer of upcoming EdFringe show Lost Girls / At Bus Stops, a play set on the last night of the Fringe and following characters Jess and Iona on a journey to find the best show, the best view, and the perfect moment to ‘confess everything’. We caught up with Róisín to find out more about what inspired the play ahead of this year’s festival.
You can catch Lost Girls / At Bus Stops from 15th – 24th August at Assembly George Square Studios, the Box from 14:20 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Jake: Hi Róisín, your show Lost Girls / At Bus Stops is a love letter to the Edinburgh Fringe – how wonderfully meta! Tell us about what inspired the show and about the process of writing it.
Róisín: I acually started writing the show when I was at home in Ireland during lockdown. I was desperately in love with (or so I thought…) with a friend of mine, and also desperately trying to get back to Edinburgh as soon as possible. There was a lot of longing for Edinburgh as a place I had made my home in, and the Fringe being such a big, beautiful, romantic part of that, it felt like it had to be set during August. So the show has been on quite a long journey getting to the Fringe.
Jake: Tell us about the process of developing the show, and about your relationship with director Laila Noble, and the cast.
Róisín: Lost Girls / At Bus Stops was first performed at Page2Stage and Laila directed it then too, so she’s been there from the beginning. She’s championed the show from the off, and her love for it and work on it has really made it what it is now. It’s been so amazing to have an all Queer team working on this, and bringing in Cat and Leyla was incredible for the development of their characters. They brought Jess and Iona to life in a way I never could have imagined when I started writing. I can’t stress enough how much I laughed and cried in the room with them all, I absolutely love working with this team.
Jake: Tell us about what the audience can expect coming into the show, and what they might not expect about the show.
Róisín: The show is fun, it’s full of life and love for this city, I think there’s a particular experience of August expressed in the show that Fringe audiences will be familiar with from the get-go. I’d like to think they might not expect the moments that hit hard to hit so hard. The feelings are expansive, and I hope that comes across.
Jake: What are you hoping the audience might take away from the experience, if anything?
Róisín: I want all lesbians to leave crying, and all straight people to pay attention. This is just one story, but it’s so romantic, it’s pretty sexy, and I’d love for straight people to connect that a bit more. I think this show means a lot to the Queer audiences that have already seen it. It means a lot to us, anyway.
Jake: With Edinburgh Fringe 2025 just around the corner, what are you most excited for?
Róisín: Mainly I just can’t wait to get back into the room with the team, it’s like a breath of fresh air.
In terms of shows, I’m really looking forward to seeing Copla: A Spanish Cabaret, and Jess Fostekew: Iconic Breath. I like a weird clown show too. I’m just excited to soak up the atmosphere again.
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?
Róisín: Vodka cranberry – but it’s probably in a tin.
A reminder, you can catch Lost Girls / At Bus Stops from 15th – 24th August at Assembly George Square Studios, the Box from 14:20 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Image Credit: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan
Lamesha Ruddock
Jasmine Silk
