Jumper Bumps
📍 Gilded Balloon, Appleton Tower | ⏰ 16:20, 30 July – 24 August
Content warning: coercive relationships and abortion
Right, grab your diaries and circle it in highlighter: Jumper Bumps is not just another Fringe debut – it’s became one of Theatre Village’s top 9 must-sees for 2025, as tipped way back in April. And let me tell you, it hits like a hug and a gut punch all in one.
Written by the sharp and soulful Amelia Rodger, Jumper Bumps is a beautifully naturalistic two-hander that follows best friends Eris and Atlanta as they navigate wildly different ideas about motherhood. Eris wants a baby – craves it, even. Atlanta? Not so much. She’d rather keep her freedom and her Friday nights, thank you very much.
But things take a turn when Eris finds herself unexpectedly pregnant and tangled in an emotionally abusive relationship. Suddenly, that “redo” she was dreaming of? It’s not looking so dreamy. What unfolds is a fierce, funny, and heart-splittingly honest look at friendship, choice, coercion, and what it really means to do what’s right for you – even when the world (and sometimes your nearest and dearest) make that near impossible.
Rodger’s writing is tender without ever tipping into sentimentality, and the play handles huge themes – reproductive autonomy, emotional abuse, societal pressure – with a levity that keeps it accessible without losing its emotional weight.
This one’s for the women who’ve ever sat with big questions and no clear answers. For the friends who’ve held each other together through it all. And for the audiences ready to see something bold, current, and achingly human.
Go for the laughs, stay for the truth bombs.
And trust Grace – this is one bump worth catching.
Jumper Bumps | Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Let’s hear it for the good eggs in the industry – because Emma Ruse Productions isn’t just about making cracking theatre, it’s about doing it right.
Based in bonnie Musselburgh but with stories stretching far beyond the Scottish borders, Emma’s company champions new work with its heart in the right place. Think: fair pay, open conversations, no mysterious “exposure” gigs, and a proper seat at the table for underrepresented voices.
There’s a strong focus on stories told through feminist and queer lenses – because heaven knows we need more of them on our stages. And when they say “accessibility,” they mean it – not just ramps and captions (although yes, those too), but theatre that welcomes all, in every sense.
Emma herself wears many hats – director, producer, and co-founder of Framework Theatre, a company offering tailored support to emerging artists across Scotland. Basically, if you’re a new voice in Scottish theatre wondering who’s got your back… odds are it’s Emma.
And honestly? The Fringe is all the better for it.
Right, let’s have a little nose behind the scenes, shall we? Because Jumper Bumps didn’t just land on stage by magic (although it might feel that way). This lot are the brains, brawn, and brilliance behind one of Theatre Village’s top Fringe picks of 2025. Let’s meet the powerhouse team:
Emma Ruse – Director/Producer
The boss lady. Emma’s a force from Perth (the Scottish one, not the sandy Aussie one), now calling Musselburgh home. She’s not just directing Jumper Bumps – she’s also co-founder and CEO of Framework Theatre, Scotland’s champion for emerging talent. If there’s a theatre project north of the border worth knowing about, odds are Emma’s been in the rehearsal room. She’s worked with Stellar Quines, Seabright Live, the Lyceum, Traverse, Play Pie & a Pint – you name it. Oh, and she only went and landed herself a spot on Young Women Scots 30 Under 30 in 2024. Modest? Maybe. Talented? No question.
Amelia Rodger – Writer & Performer (Eris)
Now here’s one to watch. Amelia’s writing debut in Jumper Bumps comes fresh off the heels of her 5-star turn in Pals at Fringe 2024. A performer from Perth (again, the misty Scottish kind), she trained at Performing Arts Studio Scotland and then became the very first mentee on The Ten – a UK-wide programme spotlighting red-hot emerging talent. In short, she’s blazing her trail with charm, depth, and a serious emotional wallop.
Katrina Allen – Performer (Atlanta)
Katrina plays Atlanta – and believe me, she brings the fire and finesse. Edinburgh born, but now flitting between Glasgow and London, Katrina’s an RTS Award-winning actor, writer and filmmaker with serious stage chops. Her theatre credits stretch from Macbeth at Shakespeare’s Globe (no big deal) to Treasure Island at the Royal Lyceum, and plenty more in between. She’s also the brains behind Stunners on BBC Scotland – which she wrote and starred in. Add TV credits like Casualty, Half Man, and The Social Presents LGBTQI+ Stories, and you’ve got one seriously stacked résumé.
Together, this trio are bringing truth, tension and tenacity to the Fringe stage – and Grace is here to say: don’t miss them.
Jumper Bumps | Edinburgh Festival Fringe
– Grace Hatchell
2nd Act Couriers, Theatre Village 📨
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