Interview: Sierra Sevilla, For The Love of Spam

Ahead of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024 we’re chatting with a range of creatives who will be heading to the city over August to find out more about their shows. Today we’re chatting with Sierra Sevilla about For The Love of Spam.

1. Can you tell us a bit about you and your career so far?

Hafa adai! I’m Sierra, a proud CHamoru/Filipin and theatremaker, based in London. At my core, I love to cook and eat goooood food.☺️I’m an ESEA artist who has worked in theatre as a facilitator, director and now writer/performer. I’m passionate about using theatre to shift immigrant narratives, telling unique and diasporic stories that directly challenge the current political immigration rhetoric. I received my MA in Applied Theatre from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. And this is the first show where I’ve moved into the writer/performer role, so I’m nervous but excited!!!

2. What is your show about?

For the Love of Spam is a hilarious one-woman stand-up, puppetry, participatory, and multisensory show dedicated to two things: canned meat and colonialism. We’ll find out how this (delicious) canned meat symbolizes modern-day colonialism, and threatens the very livelihood of a whole civilization in these ‘West vs East’ political games. Can this formerly catholic, angry and god-fearing woman help educate (and feed) the masses, all while ‘liberating’ her island?

3. What was the inspiration for the show and what’s the development process been to get to this stage?

I was well and truly inspired by Spam and my husband’s refusal to eat it, as I talk about in the show! I developed this show alongside my amazing director/dramaturg Izzy Rabey, and with the support of Camden People’s Theatre and their seed commission back in 2023. At this point the development process has been a lot of goofing around, consumption of Spam, and ultimately just trying out new things in front of audiences. It’s been a whirlwind year, but I’m so excited for Edinburgh Fringe audiences to come and see this 60-minute laugh riot in August!

4. What made you want to take this to the Fringe?

What better place to try out and share the message of Spammy goodness than at the Fringe?! I really wanted to take this to the Fringe because I want to share this story with as many people as possible, hopefully opening their eyes to the existence of Guam and the yummy possibilities of Spam. Also, it will be my first time at the Fringe, alongside most of my team, so it’s going to be such a wonderful opportunity for us to connect with other theatres and artists.

5. Apart from seeing your show, what’s your top tip for anybody heading for Edinburgh this summer?

From what people have told me-dress for all the seasons! And as a self-proclaimed island princess, I will definitely have to pack a few fleeces at least I think!

6. Why should people book to see your show?

The show is truly a hilarious 60-minute ride. So it will be fun,thoughtful, provocative and ultimately yummy (as you can try the Spam I make on stage... if you dare)!