Emerging theatre company WIT? Theatre are heading to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with Remember, Remember!, a boldly irreverent musical take on the Gunpowder Plot. At the heart of the show is Lucy Buncombe, who not only stars as Guy Fawkes but also co-wrote the piece, born out of a collaboration that began in the rehearsal room of a very different kind of production.
“My first little job was News Review, which is where we all met the cast of Remember Remember,” Buncombe explains. “It felt like an alignment of stars, we got very lucky with our group, we all got on really well, and then January 2025 we decided to form the company and start writing the show.”
That shared shorthand has shaped a production that thrives on energy, humour and musicality. “It’s a comedy musical about the Gunpowder Plot and it follows Robert Catesby, who was kind of the mastermind behind the plan,” Buncombe says. “He’s our unlikely protagonist, he’s the underdog, and it’s a real laugh a minute show but also has some really strong earworm tunes that people will come away singing.”
While Guy Fawkes might be the most recognisable name associated with Bonfire Night, the decision to centre the story elsewhere was deliberate. “Everyone knows Guy Fawkes, and I think people would expect the plot to revolve around him,” Buncombe reflects. “But focusing on the person who orchestrated the plan became more interesting. Because Robert Catesby is lesser known, it gave us so much more room to play with his story and the characters around him.”
That sense of playfulness extends to the show’s relationship with history itself. “There’s a lot of licence taken,” Buncombe admits. “We’ve used inspiration from real figures, but we haven’t felt tied to accuracy. There might be a love story that didn’t quite happen, and certain characters appear in ways you wouldn’t expect.”
The idea for the show developed naturally from the company’s experience creating topical comedy. “We were used to taking real stories and turning them into sketches, so we started looking at historical events we could parody,” Buncombe says. “We landed on the Gunpowder Plot because everyone recognises it, but not many people know the details. That gave us the freedom to let our imaginations run wild and fill in the gaps in our own way.”
Musically, Remember, Remember! leans into that same sense of variety and irreverence. “It’s a lot of musical theatre parody,” Buncombe explains. “Some songs are big party anthems, some feel a bit familiar in a playful way, and it’s all quite eclectic. It definitely doesn’t sit in one style or one period, it jumps around a lot.”
The show has already been tested in front of audiences at venues including the Old Red Lion and Hull Truck Theatre, experiences that proved invaluable in shaping the final piece. “We were so lucky to have packed houses, with people singing along and dancing by the end,” Buncombe recalls. “When you’ve been rehearsing something for so long, you stop knowing if it’s funny anymore, so to see it land with audiences like that was really special.”
Compared to the fast turnaround of News Review, the company have relished the chance to refine their work over time. “We’ve had the opportunity to really hone it,” Buncombe says. “And because it’s not tied to current events, we can put our own stamp on it more freely, without worrying about the politics or immediacy that comes with news-based work.”
The decision to bring the show to Edinburgh came sooner than expected, following a significant boost. “We’d originally thought about taking it up in 2027,” Buncombe reveals, “but winning the Charlie Hartill Fund with the Pleasance changed everything. It’s opened so many doors and allowed us to make the show as big and polished as possible.”
There’s even an extra flourish to the production that underscores its growing momentum. “Stephen Fry has recorded the narration for us,” Buncombe says. “It’s just incredible to have that support, and it feels like a real cherry on top of everything we’ve been building.”
For Buncombe, the appeal of the show ultimately comes down to its unapologetic sense of fun. “It’s a guaranteed good time,” they say. “It’s hilarious, it’s silly, and there’s something for everyone. If you like music, dancing and very camp, very playful storytelling, then this is absolutely the show for you.”
Listings and ticket information can be found here
