Alice Mayer on Hourglass at GrimFest
The nights are drawing in and the witching hour of GrimFest 2026 approaches, where, for the entire month of October a series of dark, twisted and macabre events will be staged at venues across London. And it’s at the Bread & Roses Theatre that you will find writer and performer Alice Mayer’s extraordinary production Hourglass, which chillingly explores how dating can go horribly wrong. With the sands of time ticking, we hurried to ask Alice to tell us more about her show.
Alice, it’s great to talk to you about Hourglass but a little unnerving to learn that there’s murder and spiders at the heart of your show. What can you reveal about the story?
Well there’s no need to be scared of me I promise! I won’t bite but maybe my character Charlie will. Hourglass is a darkly comedic one woman show about Charlie who thinks she’s turning into a black widow spider because all of her exes keep dying after she breaks up with them. No actual spiders are used or harmed in the production – Charlie’s exes however won’t be as lucky.
What are some of the themes you cover?
Death, relationships, sexual assault and revenge.
Tell us about the music and the original songs in the production.
I have always used songs to process my thoughts and feelings, from belting bangers out in the shower to writing them myself. When Charlie sings – it’s either when she is processing huge emotions or for comedic effect. Music is the unsung hero of Hourglass because it immediately evokes a time, a place or a feeling instantly without the use of set.
It’s interesting to see that puppets will be included. How do they help tell the tale?
As an artist and an actor I’ve always been fascinated between the cross over between art and performance and I think that’s what puppetry is. I use it sparingly in the production – but when it’s just you on stage and you want to create a friend to talk to – why not make one yourself!?
You’ve written and are starring in the play yourself. Is there an element of autobiography to it?
Well… all of the stories are pretty much true – I’ve changed the names and locations for anonymity. I’m hoping there’s not a Baby Reindeer situation going to happen. The deaths are artistic license, but the relationships, they are very much real.
Charlie is a meeker and more apologetic version of myself which I hope is a comedic contrast to the deaths she supposedly causes.
Hourglass stems from one of the scariest experiences in my life. I am an SA survivor and I wrote a poem to help me come to terms with what happened. I actually read it to my therapist and she now uses it for other SA survivors and now it’s in this show. It was the catalyst to create something to help give a voice to domestic SA. Handling the darkness with truth, levity with humour and revenge with horror.
Why did you feel this was a good medium with which to examine such difficult topics?
The female experience is scary enough as it is so lends itself to a horror genre. I focus my work on my friends’ and my own experiences of being a woman in the modern world but twist it, reclaim it and push it into the realms of the supernatural whilst still feeling grounded and real.
Has writing the play helped you process your experiences?
It has, and I truly hope it helps others to do the same.
What do you hope audiences come away with from Hourglass?
It’s funny, unexpected, with many dark twists and turns. I hope they will laugh, cry and (hopefully) want to k*ll and eat a man afterwards. It’s the perfect show to see before Halloween weekend.
Thanks very much to Alice for this amazing insight into her work. Hourglass plays at Bread & Roses Theatre as part of GrimFest 2026 on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 October.
