From Cockpit Theatre work-in-progress to Popcorn Writing Award: Tiggy Bayley’s “Squidge” takes Edinburgh Fringe by storm
In October last year, we were invited to the Cockpit Theatre’s “New Stuff” night to watch a scratch performance of Tiggy Bayley’s self-penned one-woman show “Squidge”.
A quick google search tells you that Tiggy Bayley is a talent to look out for, having written, directed and starred in the endearing, quirky short film “Tildypops” in 2022l, about a teenager from South London who struggles to lay claim to her selfhood, amid the chaos of her home life with her autistic brother. The film took the short film festivals by storm, winning the Cinematic Writing Award at Blackbird Film Festival and Best Actress at both Topaz and Romford Film Festival. “Squidge” held a lot of promise, being her theatre debut, and the next play in development of White Noise Theatre, an exciting, emerging theatre company that creates new work with actor-writers.
Our London writer, Carla, took a seat in the Cockpit’s auditorium filled with either family, friends or new writing enthusiasts, waiting eagerly for the fresh and exciting theatre they were about to be encompassed by for the next hour or so. “Squidge” by Tiggy Bayley, says Carla, “did more then encompass. It moved, it played, it made you rise and fall on an emotional scope that I haven’t experienced in a long time in the theatre, and is a testament to the acting and writing.”
Carla had clearly found a hidden gem with a lot of promise, giving this very early look at the play a 4.5 star review, calling it “A one-woman show with a lot of heart, a pin-drop performance and writing that tears you apart and stitches you up anew”.
Carla’s hope for the play’s future was soon fulfilled, with another two scratch performances of “Squidge” at Theatre503’s “Spring Shorts” season which played to a sold-out audience. This was shortly followed by an announcement that “Squidge” was to have a month-long run at Pleasance Courtyard at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Now half-way into their run at Edinburgh Fringe, team “Squidge” have gone from strength to strength. Just last week, the play was shortlisted for the prestigious Popcorn Writing Award. Run by the Popcorn Group in partnership with BBC Writers, it is a one-of-a-kind award championing brave and imaginative writing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. And it’s not just the critics that are loving the show, just a quick look at the “Squidge” page on the Edinburgh Fringe website, audiences are calling Tiggy’s writing “sensitive”, “irreverent”, “delicate”, “unexpected” and “hilarious”.
I guess you could say we saw it first! We think you should all see it too. “Squidge” is running at Pleasance Courtyard at 1:50pm until 26th August. Grab your tickets here: pleasance.co.uk/event/squidge
SQUIDGE by Tiggy Bayley
A White Noise Theatre & Ray Productions co-production
Wednesday 31st July – Monday 26th August 2024 (not 12th or 19th), 13:50
The Pleasance Courtyard (The Below), 60 Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8 9TJ
Writer / Performer: Tiggy Bayley
Director / Dramaturg: Selwin Hulme-Teague
Produced on behalf of White Noise Theatre and Ray Productions by Linda-Ray Ndlovou
Lighting Designer Amelia Fenwick
Ages 16+. Contains strong language, references to alcohol addiction, death and sex