Dumping at The Cockpit Theatre
Friendship breakups are rarely given the same weight as romantic ones, but anyone who’s been through one knows they can be just as painful—if not more. Dumping dives headfirst into this emotional minefield, delivering a sharp, funny, and deeply relatable take on what happens when a once-unbreakable bond starts to crack. With quick-witted writing and performances brimming with heart, the show asks: when a friendship ends, who gets custody of the memories?
At the heart of Dumping are Amelia O’Loughlin and Mollie Semple, bringing Alana and Bea’s relationship to life with nuance, humour, and gut-punch honesty. As they prepare to take the stage at The Cockpit at the start of April, they sat down with us to talk about platonic breakups, the magic of great writing, and, of course, nachos.
Welcome to ET! Shall we kick off with some intros.
AO: Hey, I’m Amelia O’Loughlin, and I play Alana in Dumping.
MS: My name is Mollie Semple, and I’m playing Bea.
Where is the show playing, and why there then?
AO: We’re performing at The Cockpit in Marylebone. The venue has a rich history of supporting new work, and the team is genuinely committed to fresh perspectives and collaborating with theatre-makers.
What can audiences expect from the show?
AO: A lot of fun and a lot of heart.
What drew you to this role?
MS: Alex Summer Milne’s writing was immediately magnetic. It’s rare to pick up a script as an actor and think, “Oh cool, I get it, I know who this is, and I’m excited.” I distinctly remember my mum helping me learn lines for the audition, and even she picked up on how good the writing was. Bea felt ready and waiting for me to step into her.
AO: The platonic break-up hasn’t had enough airtime, and it’s a real thing! It’s all in the writing—Alex’s words are superbly dynamic.
What do you enjoy most about your character?
AO: She’s hell-bent on maintaining the pretence that “all’s well” in her life, while beneath that, she’s filled with uncertainty and fear. I love finding ways for both to coexist in her.
MS: Bea is loving, energetic, and silly—she has a lot of big feelings about everything. She also has some hilarious moments, thanks to Alex’s skilful writing, and those are enormous fun to play with. But what I love most about her is her bravery. She’s taking a huge risk, asking for a boundary to be set, asking to be set free—even if she doesn’t quite know what that means.
How challenging has this role been for you?
MS: Honestly, this role feels very natural to me. I know challenges will arise in the rehearsal room that I’m not aware of yet, but the biggest one will be making sure Bea feels like a fully realised person. How does she exist in her world? What has hurt her? What brings her joy?
AO: The relationship between Alana and Bea has been so well crafted, and we’ve taken our time in rehearsal to understand their wants and needs. The biggest challenge has been the comedy—finding the nuances, perfecting the timing, and making sure the wordless moments land just as powerfully.
What do you hope audiences take away from your character?
AO: “Boy, she really needed that chat.”
MS: I hope audiences love Bea as much as I do, but I also hope they recognise her flaws in relation to Alana. There’s no clean cut in the relationship we’re portraying, and I hope that complexity resonates.
Describe a moment during the production process that felt magical or transformative.
AO: Stepping on stage to a live audience never stops feeling magical.
If this show were a meal, what would it be and why?
AO: Nachos.
What’s the weirdest or most unconventional prop used in the show?
AO: A plate of nachos.
Who would play you in the Hollywood adaptation of your life story?
MS: Me, hopefully! Unless it’s much later in my career, in which case, I’ll cameo as my older self—like the old lady in Titanic.
If you could perform this show anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
AO: The National Theatre. With its British humour and the whole play being set in an old London pub, I think it would speak brilliantly to an NT audience. Plus, it’s every actor’s dream!
If budget or reality weren’t an issue, what’s one piece of scenery or set you’d love to have?
AO: A working keg.
If you could invite any special guest (living or dead) to see the show, who would it be and why?
AO: Christopher Walken. My favourite.
What’s the most valuable piece of advice you’ve received in your career, and how has it influenced your work on this show?
MS: While I was training, we had a Zoom call with Nicola Coughlan (it was during Covid). She said something that has stuck with me ever since: she sees everything she does as the most important moment of her career. Every scratch night, every little role – it’s the most important thing. Otherwise, you’re just waiting for something that might never happen, and then what’s the point? This show and this team came together from a scratch night, all of us taking it seriously. That advice has been proven right.
AO: “Find your people. Work with them.” – Ron Howard.
Big feelings, nachos, and Christopher Walken – what more could you want? Huge thanks to Amelia and Mollie for sharing their thoughts with us!
Dumping plays at The Cockpit on the 1st and 2nd of April.
