Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Zoë Bullock

Tell us about your show. What can audiences expect?

An underwater romp (not actually underwater). Interspecies sex acts. Timothee Chalamet. A jellyfish obsessed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Sparkles. A relatable discourse on how dating is hard. Nuclear apocalypse. Gracie and the Start of the End of the World (Again) is a tragi-comic play about climate crisis from a jelly-fresh perspective.

Looking at this new show, how would you say it links to your previous work both personally and thematically?

All my work is heavily influenced by genre – I’ve always been a huge sci-fi/fantasy/horror fan, and love bringing those things out of cinema and into theatrical spaces. I’m all about using those lenses to explore humanity’s relationship with the planet and our responsibility to the world we live in, and to each other. My last show was a family theatre piece about climate crisis and intergenerational stories – this is like the grown up version of that! It speaks to my generation’s existential nihilism, combated by the hope that perhaps together we can find a new way to survive.

I’m also a performer, but I’ve never acted in my own writing before; this show is a coming-together of my skills in a new (terrifying) exciting way.

How do you feel about the current arts landscape in your country and your part in it? Does it excite you and inspire you to keep pushing the boat out?

I’m answering this on the day of the general election – so we’ll see! In general it feels like we’re in a really scary time and a tipping point for the arts, particularly with the Scottish government’s most recent refusal to commit to future arts spending. I’m inspired by the people around me and their tenacity; the scratch nights, the community support, the determination to keep going. But it always comes back to the central problem – the community is wonderful, but if there’s never any money to take something to a full production, what are we all doing here?

Right now we’re in the kind of environment that really pushes people out of the arts, as it feels too untenable to sustain a career and a life. Wider government needs to acknowledge that the creative industries contribute hugely to both national economy and wellbeing, and we should be funded to reflect that. Artists are like the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park – we find a way. But we do still need feeding.

What would you like audiences to take away from seeing this production at the Fringe?

First of all, we want them to have a good time! Life’s too short for anything else. We’d love for audiences to come away ultimately feeling that there’s still hope for change, to do better, even when it feels like we’re past the point of no return.

What show are you most looking forward to seeing in August, and why?

Buffy: ReVamped! A Fringe favourite, but one Gracie the jellyfish in particular is VERY excited about. We haven’t told her yet that it’s not actually Spike onstage (best to keep that dream alive), but retelling the whole show in seventy minutes? Shiver me tentacles.

What’s the one piece of advice you’d give a performer coming to Edinburgh for the first time?

The success of your show doesn’t define your worth. Don’t get in your head about reviews, awards, audiences, fame, touring, all that jazz – be in it. Experience it. Eat a courgette. Even if it feels like a good idea at the time, you cannot survive on late night crepes alone. See stuff (as much as you can afford – make use of your venue pass); you might never get a chance to see as much stuff again. Stay hydrated – we’re not all a jellyfish.