Girl Kisser, Lion & Unicorn Theatre
Our Camden Fringe 2025 interviews keep on coming as we attempt to publish at least 100 during July. Every day this month we are publishing more, so do keep coming back to see how close to our target we can get. You can find all our Camden Fringe interviews here.
Coming to Lion and Unicorn Theatre for five nights from 5 August, Girl Kisser promises a joyful look at queer love, along with some great music. Which all sounds good to us. So we grabbed some time with the show’s team of Emily Ambrose, Zofia Zerphy, Charlotte Clements and Gabriella Gilliat to probe a little deeper.
What can audiences expect from the show?
At the start of their adult lives, six Girl Kissers try love. The result is complex with addictive hookups, innocent discoveries and the lines of friendship being blurred. Backdropped by the East London music scene and Gen-Z’s struggle for employment and belonging, there’s sapphics and parties and kissing and dancing galore. Oh, and there’s femme’s playing guitar.
Girl Kisser is an explosion of queer angst and love set to some gorgeous music. Think Normal People meets Heartstopper. Expect love songs, electric guitars, parties, kissing and a story that will touch your heart.
Is Camden Fringe going to be the show’s first time on stage, or have you already performed elsewhere?
Camden Fringe is the first showing of Girl Kisser, following a drunk and dazzling launch event at Islington Arts Club in April 2025.
What was your inspiration behind the show?
As a theatre graduate, I struggled to find shows and media in general that resonated with me as a queer woman. I felt that the stories being told were full of stereotypes and not representative of the dating scene I found myself in. The play came about after 50 London sapphics shared their desires for representation and authenticity in theatre, sharing their stories (both wild and heartbreaking) in theatre Girl Kisser Questionnaire. I wanted to offer something new – a new perspective on queer relationships and friendships, and I think you’ll be surprised with what you find.
Is this version how you originally envisioned it or has it changed drastically since you first put pen to paper?
The play has been edited loads! I wanted it to be as honest as possible within the media of theatre. It was important for me that the cast in particular, felt like the story resonated with their own voices as queer actors.
What was it that drew you to this show and role?
Gabriella (who plays Lola): Showing queer joy on stage is just as important, if not more important, than stories of trauma. I’m so excited to be part of a show that’s celebrating the beautiful lives of six queer people who also happen to be queer.
What is it about your character that you most enjoy?
Zofia: Who could pass up the opportunity to play ambitious, complex, dark-femme Emery? Bringing her to life has been so fun and I can’t wait for the audience to step into the world we’ve created!
How challenging has this role been for you?
Charlotte (who plays Juliana): A lot of Juliana’s struggle for a large part of the play is quite internalised and something she is purposely holding back from her friends. A challenge I’m curiously working with is striking the balance between keeping this dissonance internal and covert from her friends but not unnoticeable to the audience.
What brought you all together?
We are a group of queer creatives who have come together with a shared passion of normalising queerness in current culture, as opposed to the ‘othering’ that is still happening.
If your show had a soundtrack what songs would definitely be on it?
Many playlists have been made to set the vibe in rehearsals! Lots of Radiohead and Cigarettes After Sex, but also lots of classic gay pop. Fletcher was a regular feature! If I was to pick a song for each pair in the show it would be these: Emery & Lola – Sweet by Cigarettes After Sex. Finlay & Juliana – Anyone Else But You by The Moldy Peaches. Amy & Diana – Bittersuite by Billie Eilish.
What words of advice/encouragement would you give anyone thinking about doing Camden Fringe next year?
Go for it! You miss out on 100% of the opportunities you don’t take. Everything is experience.
Thanks to Emily, Zofia, Charlotte and Gabriella for their time. Girl Kisser will be at Lion and Unicorn Theatre from Tuesday 5 to Saturday 9 August.
You can also find the play on Tiktok here.
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