Interview: Writer and performer Sam Cochrane on A JAFFA CAKE MUSICAL

The multi-award winning Gigglemug Theatre return to the Fringe this year to present a brand-new family-friendly musical comedy that takes the biscuit (or cake...?). We spoke to writer and performer Sam Cochrane about A Jaffa Cake Musical and heading back to Edinburgh with their next show.

A musical about jaffa cakes?! Please can you tell us what it's about.

A Jaffa Cake Musical is based on the real life 1991 tribunal which saw McVitie’s face off against the Tax Man to prove that a Jaffa Cake is in fact a cake rather than a biscuit. It's a hilarious and heartwarming tale which serves as a perfect slice of escapism!

This was an actual legal battle? What happened in real life?

I read every document that I could get my hands on (of which there are not many!) and although we take some artistic license with the central characters, the arguments that were actually made in court all feature within our show. I don’t want to give anything away but these include some very bizarre yet compelling points about cakes and biscuits from both sides, and the finale comprises of something which you simply will not believe happened in an actual court… but it’s entirely true!

What inspired you to write a musical on this subject matter?

I love finding a quirky topic for a new musical as it’s the sort of thing which goes down a storm in Edinburgh. This is my first time writing a show based on real events and the more I researched, the more I fell in love with the story. It’s a tale of resilience against all odds where the underdog has to take on the British government. I think as a company we’ve managed to create something which is actually quite beautiful whilst simultaneously being incredibly silly.

What is it like to perform in a show that you've written?

This is my third time performing in a show I’ve written - partly for budgetary reasons, partly because I love messing about onstage. It’s all I’ve known professionally really so I think I’d find it more strange performing in something created by another writer. You get used to wearing different hats so when I’m in the room as an actor, I have to forget about being a writer and treat the script as though it’s something entirely new to me. Similarly with producing or directing, the beauty of fringe theatre is that you learn how to take on roles you never imagined yourself doing before and often surprise yourself in the process. Then it’s a balancing act to try and give each responsibility your all, whilst not letting any of your other duties slip!

Is there a particular moment in the show you're excited to share with audiences?

The brilliant Katie Pritchard, who starred in two of Gigglemug’s other shows: Scouts! The Musical and RuneSical, plays the villainous Tax Man (think a rockstar version of The Emperor from Star Wars) and in my opinion, her evil solo is a real showstopper.

You're returning to Edinburgh Fringe with this show. What has your experience of the Fringe been like previously and what has made you want to return?

The Fringe is where it all started for us as a company, back in 2018 we premiered Timpson: The Musical and were lucky enough to pick up The Stage Edinburgh Award - from then on, I knew it was somewhere that we’d always return. The opportunities are like nowhere else in the UK, it’s the Euros or World Cup for British theatre fans, which means creatives have a chance to really get noticed by the mainstream media. I think this is, in many ways, because everyone there is often looking for the next big thing, even if they don’t realise it. I’ve been itching to go back since we were last there with RuneSical two years ago!

How important is the Edinburgh Fringe for new musical theatre and new writing more generally?

The Fringe has always been a home for daring, new musicals often based on unconventional subject matter which, if premiering in London, might not be received as warmly. It’s a place which really encourages zaniness and, as we’ve created shows about a high street shop, a cult fantasy video game and now the nation’s favourite snack, it has always felt like the best place to debut our work. However, it’s also increasingly difficult to stage new productions there which is why last year we decided to premiere Scouts! The Musical at The Other Palace in London. It was nice to discover that we can successfully debut projects outside of the Fringe, especially as it’s getting harder to do so. Though, of course, Edinburgh isn’t the be-all and end-all for musical theatre and new writing, it’s still somewhere that champions those genres and for that reason I’m really excited to head back there with our latest project.

For people who might be considering coming to Fringe for the first time this year, what advice would you give them?

Throw yourselves into it! Cram your days full of shows and get ready to leg it from one venue to the next. But if you go through the Mile, be prepared to come out the other side with more flyers than humanly possible to carry.

A Jaffa Cake Musical plays at The Pleasance at Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 31 July-26 August, with further info here.