Eleanor Higgins on WANTED’s Popcorn Award shortlisting
There are hundreds of productions to see at the Edinburgh Fringe, but occasionally one pops up that really grabs your attention. Writer and performer Eleanor Higgins’ show WANTED, currently playing at Belly Button, Underbelly, is one such play, and has just been shortlisted for the Popcorn award. We caught up with her to ask about this amazing achievement.
Hi Eleanor. Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us mid-Fringe when you’re incredibly busy! So, WANTED is on the Popcorn Award shortlist – what is that exactly?
The Popcorn Award celebrates bold, imaginative new writing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and highlights artists for their notable and groundbreaking scripts – so to be shortlisted feels like a real honour. It’s designed to support shows that are ambitious and a little rough around the edges – in the best way. It’s a brilliant initiative for artists taking risks, and I’m proud WANTED is among them.
Can you tell us a bit about the plot of the show?
Two women, both reeling from the state of things, form an unlikely alliance and begin stealing from powerful men in the city. Phones, wallets, laptops… maybe even a questionable sandwich? As their crimes escalate, so does their connection. It’s part platonic love story, part heist, part emotional reckoning. It asks what happens when the system fails you, and you decide to rewrite the rules. A “please don’t try this at home” escapade where the audience can’t decide whether they are against the girls or want to go clubbing with them?
WANTED is a comedy, but there are some brilliantly challenging themes here about class, the causes of crime, poor life choices and the justice system. Tell us about that.
I wanted to write a story that didn’t moralise, but instead explored the circumstances that can push people into crime. So often, we only hear about consequences – not the context. WANTED lets you sit with those grey areas: What if the ‘bad’ choice was the only one left? What if survival looks like theft? And can you still root for someone doing the wrong thing, if you understand why?
It’s great to see a production where queer women are front and centre but normalised. Was that a deliberate choice?
Absolutely. I didn’t want the queerness to be a twist or a struggle or a storyline in itself – it just is. These women are messy, bold, and flawed. Their queerness is simply part of the fabric, not the headline. That feels important to me.
The script is based on personal experience, so it seems very brave to make it into a play. Why did you decide to do it?
Honestly, because I couldn’t stop thinking about it. There were parts of my past I’d never quite made sense of… things I’d done, or witnessed, that didn’t fit into neat narratives. Writing WANTED was a way to confront all of that with honesty, but also with humour and heart. It’s not a confessional, but it is personal.
What about the other cast and creatives? Who have you got involved and what do they bring to the table?
I’m working with a phenomenal team. My co-star, Naomi Denny. brings real depth and nuance to a character that is the moral voice of the narrative. Kit Sinclair plays Stevie and is basically the audience favourite! (Some pro air DJ’ing skill going on). Our director, Emily Aboud, has a sharp eye for pace and tone, and isn’t afraid to push for truth, while Somebody Jones is such a detailed and ingenious dramaturg. We’ve also got brilliant sound and design collaborators who’ve helped build a world that feels nostalgic, cinematic, and a little bit dangerous.
How are things going at the Fringe right now, and is there a life for WANTED afterwards?
The Fringe is always a rollercoaster! It’s intense, exhilarating, and occasionally overwhelming. But the audience responses have been amazing, which makes it all worth it. As for what’s next…. we’d love to tour, especially to places where access to new writing is limited. There’s definitely more life in this show. We just need the right partners to help us take it further.
WANTED runs at Belly Button, Underbelly as part of the Edinburgh Fringe until Sunday 24 August.
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