Edinburgh Fringe Chats (#31): Glynis Traill-Nash, IN THESE SHOES

27 Jun

Conducted by Emmie for Theatre and Tonic

As anticipation builds for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025, we’re catching up with a range of exciting creatives preparing to bring their work to the world’s largest arts festival this August. In this series, we delve into the stories behind the shows, the inspiration driving the artists, and what audiences can expect.

Today, we’re joined by Glynis Traill-Nash to chat more about In These Shoes.

1. Can you begin by telling us about your show and what inspired it?

In These Shoes brings the fashion world alive in cabaret form! I’ve been living a double life for years now, as a fashion writer, including a decade at Australia’s national broadsheet, and jazz singer, which was my focus before the fashion thing took off. There’s a little bit of bio in the show as to how a kid from Perth’s semi-rural suburbs ends up on the front row at Paris Fashion Week, but mostly the show is stuffed full of insider anecdotes and observations about the absurdities of fashion: Activewear? Clowncore?? Crocs??? Expect some shameless name-dropping, important trend advice and Miranda Priestley-esque explainers. There are also a few Big Issues to be addressed, because the journalist in me couldn’t help herself, but they’re wrapped up in a big pink bow so that the gloss doesn’t get too gritty.

2. What made you want to bring this work to the Fringe this year?

Well, it’s been 27 years between Edinburgh Fringe shows, so I thought it was about time! My musical director, Josh Haines, and I launched the show last year and have done four festivals in Australia with sell-out seasons and an award from Adelaide Fringe. When asking where next, there was only one answer…

3. How would you describe your show in three words?

The perfect fit!

4. What do you hope audiences take away from watching your performance?

A spark of joy, an earful of great songs, an appreciation of the transformative powers of fashion, a desire to embrace their individuality… And hopefully question their decision to buy Crocs.

5. What’s your top tip for surviving the Fringe?

Well, it won’t include staying out dancing until 4am every night like the last time I was there… But it will include hot chips. Which is very un-fashion of me.

6. Where and when can people see your show?

Underbelly at Bristo Square (Dairy Room) at 7.45pm, from 30 July to 25 August (but not Wednesdays, when I’ll be washing my delicates).