A Roof Above My Head, Lion & Unicorn Theatre
For Camden Fringe 2025 we are attempting to reach 100 interviews to highlight as many of the shows performing as we possibly can. Every day we will publish new interviews, so do keep coming back to see how close to our target we can get. You can find all our Camden Fringe interviews here.
Corey-Rhys Edwards from Poor Penny Theatre Company joins us to chat about A Roof Above My Head, an exploration of human emotion, modern masculinity, connection, with a dose of morbid humour on the side. Catch the show at Lion and Unicorn Theatre from 11 to 13 August, tickets available here.
What can audiences expect from the show?
A Roof Above My Head examines the impact of unity in the face of adversity – a rivetingly funny and poignantly relevant production that explores the raw intricacies of human emotion and modern masculinity. In a world that sells social independence and emotional isolation as success, A Roof Above My Head challenges this narrative. A morbidly comic and deeply relatable tale exploring the tenuous relationship between thought and feeling, it asks whether transparent connection can offer salvation for our struggles.
Is this your first time performing the show?
Yes, this year’s Camden Fringe will mark the debut of A Roof Above My Head. We felt that Camden was the perfect place to premiere the show, as it’s deeply inspired by our personal experiences, both Jack and I spent two to three years living in North London, in and around the Camden area. We’ve developed a strong connection to the community, and the story itself is rooted in that world, making Camden a natural and meaningful setting for its first performance.
What was your inspiration behind the show?
We set out to tell a story that is both personal and universally relatable, drawing from our own experiences, addressing challenges that many people face in their everyday lives. Our aim was to create characters and situations in which audiences could see themselves, and through that connection, find both resonance and a sense of comfort, along with moments of humour and reflection.
Is this version how you originally envisioned it or has it changed drastically since you first put pen to paper?
The play has evolved significantly since its initial conception. While our core vision has remained consistent, the way we choose to tell the story has undergone numerous adaptations throughout the creative process.
Being a fringe festival, we all know sets have to be bare minimum, how have you got around this with your set and props?
For us, this approach came naturally. A Roof Above My Head was intentionally designed to be minimal yet impactful, allowing for future development and expansion without unnecessary complications.
Are there any plans for what comes next after the show has finished its run for you or the show?
We have a clear strategy in place, built on a strong foundation that outlines the next steps for both the play and the company. Our primary goal is growth. beginning with further opportunities for A Roof Above My Head, whether through additional festival performances or securing a more semi-permanent home for the production. We’re committed to ensuring its continued development and reach.
Similarly, Poor Penny Theatre is dedicated to creating original work and bringing new writing from script to stage. Following this project, we fully intend to develop and produce further pieces that align with our mission.
If you had to describe your show as a colour, what would it be?
We’d say yellow. and that was a very intentional choice. We believe colour can be a powerful storytelling tool, and yellow felt right from the start. It captures both sides of our play: the warmth, hope, and humour, but also the moments of caution, anxiety, and ego. It’s bright, bold, and a little complicated, just like the characters.
If you had to describe your show as a meal, what would it be?
A Tesco meal deal is probably the most fitting choice not only because it features in the play, but also because it sums up the spirit of the piece quite well.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you have received during your career and how has it influenced your work on this show?
Be authentic in all respects. If you’re writing, write circumstances you understand, things you can bring real raw emotion from. Similarly if you’re acting, find the truth in those situations for yourself. The best work is always the work that comes from deep within.
What words of advice would you give anyone thinking about doing Camden Fringe next year?
Just do it! It’s so valuable as an experience and you learn so much in each and every aspect of creating a show. It’s hard. But incredibly rewarding, and most importantly very fun.
Thanks to Corey-Rhys for chatting to us. If you’ve been inspired to see the show, catch it at the Lion & Unicorn Theatre from Monday 11 to Wednesday 13 August.
