Theatre Village managed to have an interview with the writer- Amenie Groves behind Penelope Quadrangle and the Meaning of Friendship which is appearing at Edinburgh Fringe this year, a hot ticket!
Speaking of tickets, here is the link:
Penelope Quadrangle and the Meaning of Friendship | Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Special delivery from Theatre Village! Grace here — with a slightly bloodstained envelope marked “Top Secret Friendship Pact (Definitely Not a Murder Confession).”
You know those friendships that feel a little too intense? The ones where you’d lie, cry, and maybe even drag a body across campus just to prove your loyalty? Well, Amenie Groves has turned that chaotic energy into her deliciously deranged dark comedy Penelope Quadrangle and the Meaning of Friendship. It’s a show that struts confidently in heels through girlhood angst, unhealthy attachments, and murder mystery tropes — all while looking criminally fabulous.
I caught up with Amenie (thankfully not in a janitor’s closet) to chat about teen diaries, fake blood in the shower, and why we sometimes stick by our worst friends. Read on… and maybe check your alibi.
What inspired you to write *Penelope Quadrangle and the Meaning of
Friendship?
The play was inspired by a combination of things: struggling with female friendships as an adult, unearthing my teenage diaries (in all their angsty glory) and my love for murder mysteries. Combining the three was a fun way for me to process a lot of things I’d learnt about friendship over the years, whilst paying homage to my favourite genres of entertainment.
How do you think Penelope’s relationship with Natalie reflects real-life
dynamics in friendships?
I think particularly in school there’s often the pressure for girls to fit into a clique and put on a character or get left behind. Penelope is dependent on Natalie because Natalie, to her, is proof that she isn’t the outsider she fears she is. Characters like Bridget freak Penelope out because they don’t fit into her perfect prescribed model of friendship she’s decided she needs. I think often we can get stuck in the routine of certain friendships without considering whether they’re a healthy relationship.
Has there been any particular challenges that come with writing a dark
comedy like this one?
Balancing the message of the show and its silliness can be tricky- the ultimate aim of the play is to give our audience a guaranteed night of belly laughs, but my favourite stories always give you something to think about when it’s over. If ‘Penelope Quadrangle’ can get audiences even to appreciate their friends in a new way, it will have done its job.
How do you think Penelope justifies her loyalty to a possible serial
killer?
For Penelope, friendship is a status symbol, something you need to have to be considered normal. She never considers whether Natalie is a ‘good’ person- Natalie is her ‘best friend’, therefore she must be loyal. I think many of us have been in one-sided situations like this, so hopefully her predicament is relatable, if ridiculous!
If you had to cover up a crime with your best friend, what ridiculous
excuse would you come up with?
Oh, we could absolutely use the theatre as our excuse. I’ve gotten into trouble before for having prop limbs strewn all over my room- and for testing fake blood recipes in a shower! A smile and a simple ‘it’s for a play’ could help you get away with a lot of things, I think…
How do you think Edinburgh Fringe audiences will react to the concept of
loyalty in such a twisted friendship?
I think they’ll be shocked, and I hope they’ll be completely hooked! The show combines tropes from incredibly popular chick flicks and murder mysteries to create a unique recipe that is guaranteed to keep you guessing and giggling the whole way through!
What are your hopes after university? Are you aiming to become a
professional playwright?
I would love to continue writing comedy. I’ve recently had another play picked up for an exciting project in London (which I can’t name yet, sorry!), and I’ve spent the past few months writing and performing standup comedy in Hamburg! You’ll probably be able to spot me onstage at the Free Footlights in Edinburgh, seeing how my material translates to a different kind of audience. If I can keep on writing comedy and somehow make money making people laugh, I’ll be doing exactly what I want to do!
And finally darlings:
Word is already buzzing, and shows like this don’t stay a hidden gem for long. So don’t wait until it’s the one everyone’s talking about — get in early, grab your ticket, and prepare to laugh, squirm, and maybe text your best mate an apology. This is shaping up to be one of the hottest tickets at the Fringe. Trust your local theatre postie — Grace knows. Penelope Quadrangle and the Meaning of Friendship | Edinburgh Festival Fringe