Joey Jennings is taking a bold new solo country rock musical to the Edinburgh Fringe 2026 called Little Pink Dress. I have up with Joey to find out more about the show.
What was the inspiration for your show?
The truth is, this show came out of nowhere in May 2020, around 4 in the morning. I couldn’t sleep, I was feeling very alone and lost. I ended up writing the first song, Song About Dad, that night, and most of the rest of the music came that following summer.
Have you been given any advice or help from performers or creatives who have previously been to the Edinburgh Fringe?
Everyone I’ve spoken to who’s performed at Fringe keeps saying I’m going to need a vacation afterward. I’m definitely taking that advice, though I’m not totally sure where I’ll end up. Looking forward to some proper downtime after the show, hopefully somewhere in nature.
When did you first step on the stage as a performer?
I was around nine or ten. My first play was Midsummer, and I played King Oberon. I remember making the decision to give him an eye twitch moments before going on stage, and it made people laugh. I’ve been addicted to that feeling ever since.
What is the best piece of advice about working in Theatre you have received?
Make your own work. In 2019, I had a small recurring role on a TV show where I got to play the son of two iconic actors, Rosalind Chao and Kevin Pollak. Between takes, we ended up having a lengthy conversation about the importance of creating your own opportunities and making work that’s specific to you rather than waiting for someone else to hand it to you. The conversation really stuck with me. Six months later, I wrote the first song of what would eventually become this musical.
Have you been able to stay within a realistic budget for your production? How have you raised funds to put your show on?
I’m trying to stay within a realistic budget! Fringe has definitely been more expensive than I anticipated, but it feels good to finally get this project out of my system. I really believe Fringe is the right place for it.
Who is your target audience?
While the story is universal, it’s rooted in the experience of a gay child raised by a single mother, so I imagine it will resonate deeply with the LGBTQ+ community. More broadly, it’s for anyone who has lost touch with their younger self through life’s hardships and is searching for the courage to reconnect, embrace uncertainty, and move forward as authentically as possible.
Little Pink Dress at studio at C ARTS, C Aquila (21), Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026. Performances will run 5–30 August 2026, 17:35.
Theatre, Art and Film Reviews 
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