Jake Mace
Inspired by her time studying at Cambridge University, Emily Knutsson’s upcoming debut EdFringe show Me and My Year of Casual Monasticism follows student Mary and asks what exactly is the difference between a medieval monk and a modern-day academic – exploring sexuality alongside the middle ages. We caught up with Emily for a pixelated pint to find out more about what inspired the show.
You can catch Me and My Year of Casual Monasticism from August 1st to 23rd at Pickle Studio at Greenside @ Riddles Court from 20:40 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Jake: Hi Emily! Your show is both a raunchy exploration of sex and the Middle Ages through the eyes of a character called Mary – tell us about her and the journey she goes on.
Emily: Mary is an interesting character because she has a plethora of conflicting qualities: she’s bold yet unsure, anxious yet eager, brave yet frightened. The story is loosely based off of my first year studying for a master’s degree in Creative Writing at Cambridge University, and ever since the inception of this show, people have wondered how similar Mary and I are as people. In truth, she functions as a sort of altar-ego for me, for, while we are alarmingly similar, Mary possesses the strength to say things the real-life Emily cannot.
We follow Mary as she grapples with the aftermath of breaking up with an abusive ex-boyfriend prior to starting her degree, as well as her (clumsy) attempts to navigate the complex social scene at Cambridge University. The show really takes off when Mary, trying to ward off the romantic advances of a fellow student, pretends she is going to take a year of celibacy, or ‘monasticism’, and live like a monk while studying for her degree. The story blends Mary’s complex emotional state with medieval absurdities, rendering her journey, despite the comedic edge, one of reflection, reverence, and redemption.
Jake: Tell us about what the audience can expect coming into the show, and what they might not expect about the show.
Emily: The audience can expect, strangely enough, to question whether or not they’ve ever felt like a whore. Mary is, in many ways, a stand-in for everyone who feels like they are two extremes at once. For, aren’t we all both a Madonna AND a whore?
The show is essentially a sexy Ted Talk with a stand-up comedy edge, so audiences can expect to be engaged with directly through crowd work. Each night, the way that particular audience and I interact shapes the dynamic of that night’s show, rendering each performance extraordinarily singular and unique.
Audiences can also expect lots of authentic yet bizarre medieval manuscript images featuring medieval penises, naked nuns, and monks vomiting their holy guts right out.
Jake: What are you hoping the audience might take away from the experience, if anything?
Emily: I hope they come out with a sense of admiration towards the Middle Ages, an understanding of the long-term effects of domestic abuse, as well as a newfound appreciation for medieval penis trees.
Jake: With Edinburgh Fringe 2025 just around the corner, what are you most excited for?
Emily: It might sound a bit silly, but I’m enormously excited just to get on stage and perform the show every single night. We were offered a full run for the Fringe, something that took me completely by surprise. So, for all twenty-one shows, I’m thrilled to be able to meet so many new audiences and give each one an amazing show.
I’m also hoping that the Fringe will bring further development opportunities for this concept. I’ve written a novel by the same name that follows a roughly identical story, and I’m aiming to explore publishing opportunities for it following the Fringe. I’m also a filmmaker, and I’ve produced two films under my production company, Ready or Knut Productions, and I’m hoping that I can marry my filmmaking skills with my theatrical skills, and one day put Me and My Year of Casual ‘Monasticism on screen.
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?
Emily: Oh, this one is easy. It would absolutely be a Bloody Mary: tart, unconventional, slightly surprising, with a strangely biblical edge.
A reminder, you can catch Me and My Year of Casual Monasticism from August 1st to 23rd at Pickle Studio at Greenside @ Riddles Court from 20:40 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
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