Edinburgh Fringe Chats (#18): Roz Pappalardo, ALL FIRED UP, AN 80’S MIXTAPE MUSICAL

23 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 Roz Pappalardo about the show All Fired Up: An 80’s Mixtape Musical.

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

Take two fierce regional artists from Far North Queensland, Cairns, Australia, me, Roz Pappalardo, and the brilliant Rachel Terry, add a mixtape of ‘80s female rock icons, and you get All Fired Up: An ‘80s Mixtape Musical. It’s part rock concert, part high-energy aerobics class, and part laugh-out-loud theatre, all wrapped around Tammy Tooth’s midlife crisis, a time-travel twist, and a live ’80s soundtrack that shaped a generation.

In 60 jam-packed minutes, Rachel and her real-life teenage daughter Scarlett explore how music (and a little self-reflection) can change your life. Meanwhile, I’m DJ Neon—radioDJ, unofficial life coach, and lead vocalist (in front of a live4-piecerock band)of over 15 epic ‘80s anthems.

When we first heard Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” as young teens, something shifted. That raw power and the out loud soul searching? It stuck with us. It built us. All Fired Up is a tribute to that spirit—and a love letter to every woman who's ever danced through her drama.

So dust off your leg warmers, grab your blue eye shadow, and come get loud with us.

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

Why the Fringe? Whynotthe Fringe! We figured we’re not going to be lying on our deathbeds thinking, “Gee, wish we hadn’t taken our hit show All Fired Up: An ‘80s Mixtape Musical to Edinburgh.” The timing lined up, the show’s still hot after a massive tour right across Australia; mainstage festivals, big city venues, tiny outback halls; so we thought, let’s throw ourselves into the deep end of the biggest arts festival in the world. We’re ready, the show’s ready, and is there any better place in the world to show up see what’s possible?

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

1980’s music comedy

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

We want people to leave All Fired Up; an 80’s mixtape musical feeling like they’ve just reconnected with a forgotten part of themselves. If it sparks joy, makes you finally sign up for that dance class, guitar lesson or pottery wheel, then we’ve done our job. Creativity makes life louder, messier, funnier and better. That’s what it’s all about.

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

I’ve not been to this Festival before, but I would say vodka, bacon, eggs and hot sauce, and a bit of sleep when you can.

6. Where and when can people see your show?

Our show is performing at Assembly George Square: Studio One Wednesday 30th July–Monday 25th August 2025(not 12th, 19th), 17:55. https://assemblyfestival.com/whats-on/923-all-fired-up-an-80s-mixtape-musical