Edinburgh Fringe Chats (#165): Matt Williams, SIDE OF LIFE MUSICAL
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 Matt Williams to find out more about Side of Life Musical.
Can you begin by telling us about your show and what inspired it?
Set in 60's Manhattan, 'This Side of Life' follows Nina and Robert, two buskers with dreams of 'making it on Broadway. When their hopes get entangled with London lads, Jack and Ernie, money and morals are put on the line and swept up in a rotten con.
This original musical is inspired by both the music of golden age Broadway and Cockney musicals. Think 'Singing' in the rain' meets 'Oliver!'. I hope to bring an old-timey feel to a storyline still relevant today, asking "how far will people go to succeed, and who they are willing to step on to get there?".
What made you want to bring this work to the Fringe this year?
The Edinburgh fringe festival is legendary in UK culture, and as an aspiring composer, this has been the goal for years. I am so lucky to have the chance to showcase this work on a Fringe stage, and am so grateful to our company and funding bodies who are making this happen!
How would you describe your show in three words?
Fast-paced, tap-dance, feel-good
What do you hope audiences take away from watching your performance?
I would love the audience to feel some warm level of nostalgia, as it is a throwback style of music to the 50s and 60s. To those hoping to succeed in what is an increasingly stifling Arts industry, I hope to emphasise the importance of support and networking, and staying in love with the art you create despite all of the uncertainty.
What’s your top tip for surviving the Fringe?
Time out! To be able to sit in the corner of a room and put your headphones in to shut everything out and regroup.
Where and when can people see your show?
We are performing at the Aquila Temple, C Venues, from the 30th July - 17th August at 5:40pm every afternoon! Our tickets are bookable through C Arts and the Edinburgh Fringe website.
