Talented islander directing and producing Fringe Festival play

Wednesday 30 March 2022

A familiar face to the Guernsey music and theatre scene will be performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year.

Olivia Younger, who moved from Guernsey to London to pursue a career in the arts, set up her own theatre production company: Neon Diamond Theatre Ltd.

“My ambition at university was to train as a singer and become a professional performer, but I ended up directing more than performing,” she said.

“I found an appetite for being both on and off stage and doing a bit of everything. I love producing theatre, being collaborative and creative and, ultimately, making the decisions for myself."

Pictured: Olivia Younger has been performing her whole life. 

Miss Younger continued: “Opportunities to produce and be the decision maker in this industry are like gold dust; it just doesn’t happen. So, I started my own theatre company and production business to be able to create those opportunities myself and build a team with the same perspective.”

Miss Younger read music at the University of Bristol and went on to graduate with a master’s degree in musical theatre from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She trained in acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and Royal Shakespeare Company and was taught singing at the Royal Academy of Music.

“Anyone who’s met me knows I’ve never been a wallflower and I’m not one to follow the rules; my dad describes dealing with me as 'grabbing a tiger by the tail',” she said.

Pictured: The Edinburgh Fringe Festival will be taking place in August.

Miss Younger continued: “since I can remember, I have always been a performer and continue to work as a professional musician across London.

“I moved to London with the ambition of making a name for myself. I watched my friends walk in and out of countless auditions while being a cookie-cut of the other hundred girls in the room and they rarely got a break.

“They have tunnel-vision, whereas I am much less black and white; I couldn’t stand having my identity and individuality wiped away.”

Miss Younger has credited her accomplishments to her experiences of performing in Guernsey.

“When I was in Guernsey I performed as much as I could and I am so thankful that Guernsey has such a vibrant arts scene, without which I wouldn’t be where I am today,” she said.

Pictured: Miss Younger has started rehearsals with her production company. 

“I was a regular at the Eisteddfod and at open mic nights. I performed with eight local choirs and took dance and drama lessons at GATE," said Miss Younger.

“At 13 I started busking and by 15 I was gigging regularly. I also performed in all the Elizabeth College and Ladies’ College school theatrical productions.

“I am so grateful to all the countless islanders who have supported me, taught me and gave me opportunities to perform.”

Miss Younger has high aspirations for her company.

“My short-term goal is to make the company profitable. I truly believe, with the invaluable business team I am working with, that over the next 5 to 10 years Neon Diamond Ltd, will be firmly established in the London theatre scene,” she said.  

“Ultimately I want to compete with the big guns, but for now it’s a lot of hard work, patience and absorbing as much as I can about business.”

Pictured: Miss Younger's production will feature the songs of Fleetwood Mac.

The company’s debut production, a large-scale musical titled “X: 969”, will run for one month at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August.

“Using the discography of Fleetwood Mac, X: 1969 follows the lives of the women associated with the Charles Manson cult in 1960s California,” explained Miss Younger.

“Although the women are at the mercy of Manson, together they are a murderous, drug-addled machine who vow to 'never break the chain'."

“My job as director is to impose a lasting impression on an audience. I want the audience to ask themselves whether people are born evil, if the actions of the women were justified, whether we are all capable of committing such crimes and what they would have done in the same circumstances.”

Pictured: Miss Younger is directing and producing the show.

Performers can book their own places at the Fringe Festival, but there is fierce competition for top slots.

“There are thousands of events and shows going on at the Fringe, so the key to standing out is securing a primary venue and time slot,” said Miss Younger.

“We are very lucky to be performing at the Thistle Theatre on the Royal Mile for a full month run at 19:30. The venue is high in demand which is why we organised our contracts with them a year in advance.

“We already have interest from large investors but their financial contribution is reliant on how successful our Fringe run is. We are desperate for financial backing to pull-off the big show they’re looking for; it's a catch 22.

“We have crowd-funding pages and funding plans and we’re still looking for sponsors and investors.”

Pictured: Miss Younger has secured a popular venue for the show's month long run in Edinburgh. 

Miss Younger has encouraged any local performers to contact her if they would like to audition for the production.  

“We’ve just completed our London workshop with a cast of West End performers and will soon be announcing auditions for our Fringe run, so any Guernsey performers that are interested please contact me or Neon Diamond Ltd for more information,” she said.

Miss Younger has mixed feelings about the undertaking. 

“As a director, I am so excited and I can’t wait to see it on stage,” she said.

“As a producer, I’m a little more nervous as it’s my first show and I’ve really jumped in at the deep end. I have applied for over 50 grants as there’s only so much personal funding I can do, so finding investors is my biggest challenge at the moment.”

You can donate to Miss Younger's crowdfunding campaign HERE. 

Pictured: The show will be a debut for Miss Younger.