The Fringe Five | Sam Woof

Long ReadsAug 25, 2023

Sam Woof, artistic director of Goya Theatre. Photo: Alex Brenner

Paul Vale

Paul has been writing for The Stage since 1998 as a critic and feature writer. He is also part of The Stage's Edinburgh Fringe review team.

The Stage’s team of six critics saw 180 shows across the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. At the end of the festival, we asked them to choose the five theatremakers who had enjoyed breakout fringes, the emerging artists who really made an impact and who we’ll be keeping an eye out for in future years. Among the five is Sam Woof, artistic director of Goya Theatre. Paul Vale explains why...

Paul Vale

Paul has been writing for The Stage since 1998 as a critic and feature writer. He is also part of The Stage's Edinburgh Fringe review team.

Goya Theatre emerged at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2022 with its quirky, complex musical Sex with Friends (and Other Tiny Catastrophes). Written and directed by Sam Woof, it offered a modern take on long-term friendships and how they evolve over time. It was scrappy, but packed with humour and spoke directly to Gen-Z theatregoers. More importantly, it wore its queer colours with complete confidence, and Woof’s score and lyrics demonstrated a rare sophistication for such new writing.

Woof and their team at Goya are a unique voice, telling modern stories for the next generation of musical theatre fans

Woof’s “tricky second musical” has proved to be even better. Four Felons and a Funeral starts with a car chase before changing gear into a road trip, as four friends try to process their grief at the death of another. Again written by Woof, with assistance from musical director Màth Roberts, this piece boasts a clearer trajectory and far more confident direction, while remaining true to Goya’s queer sensibilities. Meanwhile, across the Pleasance Courtyard, Goya’s second show – Actually, Love – is more experimental in structure but disarmingly touching, as two queer artists tiptoe cautiously towards love.

Woof and their team at Goya are a unique voice, telling modern stories for the next generation of musical theatre fans. Its stories are amusingly off-the-wall but grounded in exceptional ensemble work and excellent music and lyric-writing skills.