Katie Sayer is a 25-year-old writer and producer.
Her writing for BBC television received a BAFTA nomination, and her multiple award – winning writing for multiple BBC Radio 4 programmes earned her a spot on the 2023 Radio Academy 30 Under 30. She recently wrote and produced the 10-part documentary series ‘Marco Pantani: Death of a Pirate’ for BBC 5Live and BBC Sounds, which has been both critically and commercially successful. She has written a number of plays, including one that recently transferred to Soho Theatre, one that was published by Audible, and one that is currently in development as a sitcom.
Katie joins us on Close-Up Culture to chat about her show, Love’s A Beach.
Hi! First things first, how are you?
Hello! We’re doing really well thanks, how are you? That colour looks gorge on you btw x
In your own words, can you describe for us what your show is about?
Of course! Love’s A Beach is about what it means to be a modern celebrity – and how fickle a mistress fame can be. It follows Ben and Cyrus, the first gay winners of a Love Island type reality show… six months on from their win, as the sponsorship deals are beginning to dry up, and the phone has suddenly stopped ringing. Ben is happy to return to normal life, but Cyrus wants to cling to celebrity, whatever the cost – then they get offered an influencing deal in Dubai, which looks like it might just drive them apart… And if you were to condense that into three words, what would they be? Funny! Yet satirical?
What has preparation for the Fringe looked like for you so far?
Downloading lots of audiobooks to our phones, investing in some walking boots, and bulk – buying multivitamins from Holland & Barrett.
What do you want audiences to take away from seeing your show?
We just hope that people enjoy it and have a laugh – it’s a comedy through and through, and the most important thing to us is that people find it funny and have a good time. We do have some serious points to make about the fame machine and modern celebrity culture, but we’ve tried to wear them lightly and to focus on the characters at the heart of the story. So overall: immense laughter followed by a period of profound person al reflection. Not dissimilar to how we both lost our virginities.
How did you come up with the concept of your performance?
We had noticed that a lot of ex Love Islanders and reality TV stars either had to go back to their normal jobs immediately after the show , or had to take on brand sponsorship deals that were increasingly embarrassing and a world away from the Pretty Little Thing dream (laxative tea, anyone?). It occurred to us that fame that can be so easily won can also be very easily lost – and that the process of that rise and fall, which happens incredibly publicly, has the structure of a Greek tragedy with the detail of an ITV2 romp. We wanted to explore what it means to be famous in 2024 – and how very young people are plugged into the fame machine and then abandoned in the name of entertainment. (And how we’re all slightly complicit in feeding the beast – this isn’t a criticism of people who watch reality television, we’re all equally to blame! We say, sipping from our Love Island branded water bottles).
Edinburgh Fringe is certainly an incredibly busy event, what are you most looking forward to doing whilst there?
Naturally the street tour silent discos. Highlight of the month. Where can people catch your show this summer? We’re at the Pleasance Courtyard, in the Baby Grand at 12.45pm each day (except the 13th ). And then we’ll be in the bar from 13.46 onwards if you fancy a drink.
And where can people follow your work?
We’re on socials as @lovesabeachplay (original, we know).
Finally, what would be your dream venue or theatre to perform at?
Our absolute dream was for the show to be on at Soho Theatre, and we had that dream realised earlier this year when we were invited to be part of Soho Theatre ’ s emerging season, Soho Rising. So now… whoever will take us. Do you have a front room? A n empty shed? A wendy house? Hit us up.
SHOW LINK: https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/loves-beach
TWITTER / X ACCOUNT: @lovesabeachplay
INSTAGRAM A CCOUNT: @lovesabeachplay