After a sold-out run at The Other Palace, Florence Lace-Evans is bringing their dark comedy Yes, We’re Related to the Edinburgh Fringe. Set in the aftermath of a mother’s death, the play follows two dysfunctional sisters and a red squirrel named Gerald. It’s a show that’s as heartfelt as it is hilarious—and yes, it’s frequently dubbed “the squirrel play.”
“I always knew I wanted to write a dark comedy about two dysfunctional sisters,” says Lace-Evans. “I performed the first scene in a pub in Clapham and the audience loved it. That night I thought, okay, I really want to keep writing this.”
The story evolved over time, shaped by personal experience. “My mum’s sister passed away from cancer while I was developing the script. Watching how grief played out in my family—how relationships shifted, how people reacted—it made me realise how irrational and funny grief can be. That’s when I knew what the show was really about.”
At the centre of the chaos is Sara, who believes her mother has been reincarnated as a squirrel. “That’s her secret,” explains Lace-Evans. “It’s where the show’s quirky tone comes from—this painful truth about grief, but told through a comedy about a squirrel.”
Though inspired by real-life dynamics, Lace-Evans is quick to clarify the show isn’t autobiographical. “My sister is adamant it’s about her—it’s not! But I did draw on the way we approach things differently. That contrast became the blueprint for Sara and Saskia: if one says yes, the other has to say no.”
The play has undergone several rewrites, shaped by audience feedback. “There’s a massive bombshell halfway through, and I wanted that to land. But people also loved the squirrel stuff—so I added more squirrel shenanigans. Weirdly, people really love squirrels.”
A third character, Saskia’s partner Mark, has also grown in importance. “At first people didn’t get why he was there. But now he’s the glue between the sisters. He cared for their mother with Sara, while Saskia didn’t. That tension is key.”
Taking the show to the Fringe is both exciting and daunting. “Last year we did two weeks to test the waters. This year we’re going all in at Underbelly Cowgate. I’ve got an amazing associate producer, Gabe Hampton Saint, and I’ve learned when to ask for help.”
As a writer, performer and producer, Lace-Evans wears many hats. “It’s about knowing when to switch gears. I’ve got my mega spreadsheet—it’s colour-coded, of course—and that’s my game plan.”
If you’re thinking of booking? “I’d ask if you like dark comedy. Then I’d ask if you like squirrels. It’s a messy, heartfelt, unpredictable show. Dysfunctional sisters, diabolical secrets, phallic balloons—it’s a little bit nutty, in the best way.”
Yes, We’re Related runs at Underbelly Cowgate (Big Belly), Edinburgh Fringe from 31st July to 24th August 2025 (not 11th) at 14:00. Tickets are available here.
