What’s in Grace’s Satchel? A Little Aussie Storm Brewing for Edinburgh…

By Grace Hatchell, The Girl In The Know

Now then, I don’t like to gossip… but when something this juicy lands in my postbag, I simply have to have a peek.

This week’s delivery comes stamped all the way from Australia, courtesy of House of Oz, who’ve just unveiled their 2026 Purse Prize shortlist… and let me tell you, it’s less “polite theatre announcement” and more “something exciting is quietly packing its suitcase for Edinburgh.”

Now, nothing’s officially confirmed just yet, but if you read between the lines (and you know I always do), these shows are very likely eyeing up a spot at the Edinburgh Fringe.

And what a lineup it is.

First out the satchel is Fuccbois: Live in Concert, which sounds like your average boyband farewell tour… until you realise it’s a gloriously chaotic satire with frosted tips, broken hearts, and backstage drama threatening to spill onto the stage. Equal parts pop concert and emotional meltdown, by the sounds of it.

Then we’ve got How Not to Make It in America, a one-man storytelling piece set around 2001, where dreams of making it big in New York collide with reality in the most human way possible. Twenty-eight characters played by one performer, mind you. I can barely manage one personality before my morning tea.

On the darker side of the satchel sits I Can Have a Dark Side Too, which follows a children’s entertainer whose cheerful mask starts slipping after tragedy. There’s puppets, there’s secrets, and there’s that uncomfortable feeling that something deeper is bubbling under the surface.

For a bit of chaos (my favourite flavour), Tilly Does A Show brings online character comedy onto the stage. Expect endearing, awful, and everything in between. You get the sense this one might spiral delightfully out of control… in the best way.

And then… oh, this one made me stop mid-delivery…

Man Sings The Same Song Over And Over Again For An Hour.

That’s it. That’s the premise.

I mean… I admire the commitment. I also fear for the audience slightly. But also? I’d probably go. Out of curiosity. And stubbornness.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting…

Last year’s shortlist didn’t just sit politely on a page. Oh no. Those shows went on to make proper noise at the Fringe. We’re talking rave reviews, awards, and the kind of buzz that follows you out the theatre and down the street. And two of them, FLICK and Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence, didn’t just impress… they won the whole thing and secured the backing to take their work to Edinburgh.

So this isn’t just a “nice little shortlist.” This is more like a launchpad with a bit of rocket fuel strapped to it.

All five of this year’s productions are now in that same position… waiting, watching, probably refreshing their emails more than I check my delivery route.

And here’s the bit that made me sit up straighter on the sorting bench…

The winners of this prize will go on to represent Australia at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2026.

So while no one’s pinned a flyer to the Royal Mile just yet, let’s just say… I’d keep an eye out.

Because if this is what’s coming down the pipeline, Edinburgh might be about to get a little louder, a little stranger… and a whole lot more interesting.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a satchel to repack and a feeling I’ll be delivering a few of these titles again very soon…

— Grace

https://www.houseofoz.co.uk

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TheatreVillage

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Who Is Andrew “The Guvnor” of Theatre Village? (As delivered by Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Couriers, First Class & Slightly Nosy Service) Now then… if you’ve spent any time wandering through Theatre Village, you’ll have felt it. That hum. That buzz. That sense that somewhere, behind the curtain, someone’s pulling the strings, brewing the tea, and making sure the spotlight actually turns on. That, my lovely lot, would be Andrew. Or as I’ve taken to calling him… The Guvnor. Not in a scary, “don’t cross him” sort of way—no, no. More in a “quietly building an empire while everyone else is still reading the programme” kind of way. I’ve seen him, you know. Not always in plain sight—he’s not one for centre stage—but always there. Watching. Tweaking. Thinking. Probably got about ten ideas bubbling away at once, and another five already halfway out the door. Theatre Village didn’t just appear overnight, you see. It’s been stitched together bit by bit, like one of those proper handmade costumes—threaded with passion, a bit of cheek, and a genuine love for the stage. Not the flashy, red carpet side of theatre… but the real stuff. The fringe. The underdogs. The ones pouring their hearts out in tiny venues with dodgy lighting and big dreams. That’s where Andrew’s eye is. He’s got a knack for spotting something special before the crowd catches on. A show tucked away upstairs. A performer giving it everything. A story that deserves to be heard. And instead of just nodding along like the rest of us, he builds a whole blooming platform for it. And let me tell you—this village? It’s not just for show. It’s growing. Expanding. Streets being built, doors opening, new voices moving in. He’s not just writing about theatre… he’s creating a place for it to live. Bit clever, that. Now, he won’t say it himself—far too modest—but there’s graft behind it. Late nights. Early mornings. Probably a fair few “what am I doing?” moments along the way (haven’t we all, eh?). But he keeps going. Keeps building. Keeps believing there’s room for more stories, more voices, more magic. And I like that. Because in a world where it’s easy to shout about the biggest shows with the biggest budgets, Andrew’s quietly making sure the smaller ones don’t get lost in the post. (And trust me, as a postwoman, I take that very seriously.) So if you ever find yourself wandering through Theatre Village, just remember—you might not see him straight away… but The Guvnor’s there. Somewhere between the lines, behind the scenes, keeping the whole place ticking along nicely. And if you listen carefully… you might just hear the next big idea being scribbled down. Now then— I’ve got letters to deliver, gossip to gather, and probably a biscuit waiting for me somewhere. See you round the Village. — Grace

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