Jake Mace
Electra Kolb is the writer-performer of upcoming EdFringe dark comedy thriller Father, Away She Goes, in which she aims to delve into the societal taboos of female ambition. Following a character called Sarah, devastated by rejection from her dream career, who then spirals into desperation, questioning the limits she’s willing to test. With such an intriguing and ominous premise we wanted to catch up with Electra for a pixelated pint to find out more about what inspired the show.
You can catch Father, Away She Goes from August 11th – 16th at Pickle Studio at Greenside @ Riddles Court from 13:45 (40mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Jake: Hi Electra, your upcoming EdFringe show ‘Father, Away She Goes’ explores what you call the ‘often-unspoken taboo’ about female ambition. Tell us what inspired the piece, and about the process of developing it.
Electra: The show was born from a frustration with how female ambition is still framed as dangerous, selfish, or unnatural. Throughout history and literature, ambitious women have been vilified—Eve blamed for the fall of man or Lady Macbeth condemned for her “vaulting ambition” . Even in fiction, characters like Madame Bovary, Electra, and Queen Gertrude are punished for daring to want more! I wanted to challenge this narrative whereby men are called leaders, while women are labelled bossy. There’s still a taboo around women who unapologetically pursue greatness. That’s where Sarah, my protagonist, comes in—a young woman whose ambition is both her fuel and her undoing…
The play is also deeply inspired by the Greek tragedy of Electra—particularly the fraught mother-daughter dynamic and the idealisation of the father figure. These themes felt both timeless and urgent, especially when filtered through a modern lens. As for the development process, it was surprisingly simple; I had already imagined Sarah and her story, from beginning to end, I just needed to get pen to paper. The most challenging part however, was separating the voices of Sarah and of her mother, characterising them in a way that felt authentic, distinct, and emotionally charged. Sarah’s voice came through with fierce immediacy—a mix of vulnerability and defiance—while her mother’s tone required more subtlety: layered with guilt, and uneasy tenderness. Striking that balance between their emotional worlds was the hardest but most rewarding part of the process. It’s been a process of peeling back the layers—of Sarah, of society, and of the stories we are told about what women are allowed to want.
Jake: Tell us about what the audience can expect coming into the show, and what they might not expect about the show.
Electra: The intention is to evoke intense emotional responses as the audience’s perception of Sarah shifts with each unfolding truth. What begins as a story of ambition and rejection slowly fractures—revealing trauma, betrayal, and impossible choices. With every layer peeled back, the narrative twists in unexpected ways, gripping you tighter as Sarah descends into the depths of her own psyche.
Expect the unexpected! This play is packed with sharp turns and gut-punch revelations that will keep you teetering on the edge of your seat until the final breath. It’s a raw, brutal, and darkly comic rollercoaster that doesn’t flinch—so bring tissues, steel your nerves, and prepare to question everything you thought you knew.
Jake: What are you hoping the audience might take away from the experience, if anything?
Electra: I hope this play ignites dialogue—provoking audiences to confront their own unconscious biases about female ambition. So often, these attitudes go unexamined, woven into the fabric of society without question. Father, Away She Goes aims to unravel that tapestry.
My only true desire for this show is to make the audience feel—intensely, fiercely, unforgettably. Whether it’s discomfort, catharsis, joy, grief, or rage, if they leave the theatre moved, then I’ve done my job.
Jake: With Edinburgh Fringe 2025 just around the corner, what are you most excited for?
Electra: I’m absolutely thrilled to be diving into the whirlwind of the Edinburgh Fringe—surrounded by other actors, creatives, and performers with a shared love for the arts. I can’t wait to soak in as many shows as possible, to witness the magic unfolding across stages, pubs, and street corners!
More than anything, I’m excited to introduce Sarah Jones to the world! She’s complex, raw, and unapologetically ambitious—a character who has lived in my mind for years, and now, she finally takes centre stage. Sharing her story in this electric, unpredictable space feels like the perfect way to begin.
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?
Electra: The cocktail ‘Death in the afternoon’.
A glittering glass of champagne laced with a sneaky shot of absinthe—a cocktail as intoxicating and gutsy as Father, Away She Goes. The bubbles lure you in, then that green fairy kicks you sideways, leaving you bewildered. It’s bold, unapologetic, and a little dangerous… much like Sarah herself. Just one sip will leave you swaying, uncertain what is real and what is illusion! And fittingly, the show begins at 13:45—deadly in the afternoon.
A reminder, you can catch Father, Away She Goes from August 11th – 16th at Pickle Studio at Greenside @ Riddles Court from 13:45 (40mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Lamesha Ruddock
Jasmine Silk
