Shay Mace
What happens when a Nun Hebe Bartlett is the co-founder of Dog Complex Theatre, a company debuting their show Nuns! at EdFringe this August, a physical, musical comedy that’s been created with the work of critically acclaimed comedy director Zak Hunt from Police Cops. The piece follows Sister Gertrude, whose only wish is to be the holiest nun: forgoing sin, fearing desire, yet secretly wondering what lies beneath Monk Bertram’s robes. When whispers of witches start to plague the convent, we see Gertrude team up with mysterious witch-hunter Yarrow and head out on an adventure across Bavaria to rid the world of devilry and naughty lustful thoughts.
We caught up with Hebe for a pixelated pint to find out more about Nuns, Witches, Witch-Hunters and more. You can catch Nuns! as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from August 5th – 31st (not the 17th or 25th) at Studio Five at Assembly George Square Studios from 20:45 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Shay: Hi Hebe! You’re debuting your show Nuns! at Edinburgh – tell us about medieval fantasy, women’s autonomy, beliefs, desire and self-worth, and what’s made you make a comedy about the intersection of those things.
Hebe: So Nuns! is a medieval fantasy comedy about a Nun who thinks she is going to hell for having sexual desires. When word of witch-burnings reaches her secluded convent, she sets out to rid the world (and herself) of devilry and naughty lustfulness. But when she is joined in her quest across Bavaria by mysterious witch-hunter Yarrow, their friendship may make her question what she thought she knew to be true.
The idea we started off with was completely different to that. It was really the people who were the inspiration. We just got together knowing we wanted to make a comedy. We love movies like the Princess Bride and Lord of the Rings, so started there, and then I think the themes evolved naturally around the people who are telling the story.
Shay: You’ve told us that as a company you’re making all of your own props, costumes and more – tell us about the process of that and what it’s looked like.
Hebe: Well that’s mostly down to Lili, who is part of the company and also designing the show. She can’t help but make beautiful things, and the aesthetic of the show is entirely down to her artistry. Also, we like to think of our process as similar to the way that kids get together and put on a show for their parents – just if they spent two years and all their pocket money on it. We’ve made everything ourselves, and put a lot of love into it. I really like that home-made quality – I also like seeing that on stage.
Shay: How has the creative process been of putting the show together? Give us an idea of the journey you’ve been on with it so far.
Hebe: We’ve been super lucky that we’ve been able to go away for a week at a time and spend hours devising the story. Zak Hunt from Police Cops is directing / co-writing the show, so he keeps the devising focused, however the process is incredibly collaborative and we tend to start from whatever is making us laugh: one evening we played a game over tea, and it ended up becoming a scene in the show. I think the challenge for us was then refining the material to make a satisfying story, and one that we actually cared about.
Shay: What will be the first thing the audience sees, feels, and hears as they enter the space?
Hebe: In the first scene we wear really sick cardigans so they’ll definitely see a lot of that. I also love our soundtrack. We’ve got Pat Benetar, Stevie Knicks, Bonnie Tyler – the greats.
Shay: What are you hoping the audience might take away from the experience, if anything?
Hebe: I come from quite a polite traditional background. Making this show has helped me embrace the parts of myself that are a bit rude and messy – I hope it helps other people feel the same.
Shay: What journey has the show been on to find itself at EdFringe 2026?
Hebe: Oh my goodness it’s been on a ride. We have rewritten the show about ten times, we’ve cut fully finished songs, killed our favourite jokes, and through all of that a story has emerged that I think is funny and satisfying. It’s ready to go now. Let’s just say Edinburgh Fringe is Ibiza and the show is a 20 year old lad from Kent.
Shay: With Edinburgh Fringe now just around the corner, what are you most excited for?
Hebe: I’m super excited for Soho’s line-up this year, I’ve wanted to see Xhloe and Natasha for ages. This is my first time taking a show up to Edinburgh. I graduated in 2020 and was about to take my first show to Ed Fringe but it all got cancelled, so I’m really just excited to get to do it all finally!
Shay: 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?
Hebe: Old communion wine served in one of those glitter cups with a curly purple straw – where you have to suck really hard to get anything out.
A reminder, you can catch Nuns! as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from August 5th – 31st (not the 17th or 25th) at Studio Five at Assembly George Square Studios from 20:45 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
