Edinburgh Fringe Chats (#163): Liam Lambie, WHEN WE WERE YOUNG
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 Liam Lambie to find out more about When We Were Young.
1. Can you begin by telling us about your show and what inspired it?
When We Were Young takes the audience back to 1990s Glasgow where gang culture was at its worst and takes them on a nostalgic and emotional rollercoaster, as they follow the lives of one of the many young teams who polluted the street corners of the city. This production is both a hilarious and eye-opening look back to 1990s Glasgow as well as a heart-breaking story of stolen youth. This show contains strong language, adult humour and blood.
As a company Geez a Break Production always aim to bring working-class theatre to audiences, telling unforgettable and relatable stories that shine a spotlight on topics and parts of Scottish society that are often neglected in Theatre
2. What made you want to bring this work to the Fringe this year?
with the full of the UK in an knife crime epidemic and youth and gang violence at a 20 year high we decided it was time to tackle and raise awareness of these issues in the hopes the production can stop even one person from carrying a knife.
3. How would you describe your show in three words?
Hilarious, harrowing and essential
4. What do you hope audiences take away from watching your performance?
The show always challenges audiences to look beyond the tabloid stereotype of ‘Neds/Chavs’ that we have all become accustomed to and ask them to see beyond the stereotype to see the real people.
5. What’s your top tip for surviving the Fringe?
Embrace the madness! It only happens once a year so enjoy it. Soak in the atmosphere, catch as many shows as you can (I’ve heard When we were young is great 😂) and enjoy being part of something so amazing!
6. Where and when can people see your show?
The show is on from the 1st - 23rd of August (not the 10th) in TheSpace on the Mile at 18.05 each night and at the moment we have a few deals on offering 2 for 1 tickets on certain dates for those booking early. https://www.thespaceuk.com/shows/2025/when-we-were-young-1
