For me, theatre based on real life stories can be really powerful and insightful, with creatives sharing their own unbelievable experiences with audiences. Writer and performer Samantha Ipema’s personal story ‘Dear Annie, I Hate You’ is returning to Edinburgh this year and focuses on what it was like to be diagnosed with a brain aneurysm at the age of 20. Shortlisted for the BBC Popcorn Award in 2024, Sam is joined on stage by her aneurysm ‘Annie’ (played by Eleanor House) and explores this period of her life through dark comedy and multimedia. The writing aims to ‘pay homage to different types of disabilities – both seen and unseen’ and when I received the press release for the show, I kept thinking how much a piece of theatre like this could help people going through similar experiences. I recently had the opportunity to ask performer Eleanor House some questions about the show, which is heading to The Pleasance, for the duration of the festival.
‘Dear Annie, I Hate You’ is a deeply personal piece of theatre that tells the story of writer and performer Sam Ipema’s diagnosis with a brain aneurysm. How have you found it so far, being part of a production with such poignant themes?
It’s a truly unique experience being a part of a production that is not only a true story but the personal story of someone you are working and acting with. Every decision in the production holds a lot more weight and has a lot of significance and it really makes you think extra hard about the themes you are putting across and how they might relate to an audience member that could be going through something similar themselves.
You play Sam’s aneurysm ‘Annie’, the ‘painfully honest manifestation of Sam’s inner-self’. What can you tell me about how your character interacts with Sam on stage?
I’m lucky that this particular personification of an aneurysm is a very playful one where no decisions are off limits. Annie basically torments and pushes Sam in any way she can whether it’s through a game, a song or just by being a downright menace. Annie is desperate to be seen and accepted by Sam. She wants Sam to come to terms with her diagnosis and will stop at nothing to achieve that.
How have you prepared for the role?
I’ve been given lots of free reign in how I portray Annie and it has been lots of fun as a performer. It’s really been a lot of trying new stuff and not being afraid to go there with bold decisions. She sort of is all the parts of being a human that we filter out and mask so really leaning into that has been very liberating as an actor.
What can you tell me about how multimedia is used to involve Sam’s loved ones?
Multimedia is a big part of the show and lets the audience into parts of Sam’s life in a way that is incredibly effective. It really adds to the ‘real-ness’ of the story.
The show was previously playing at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, ahead of an Edinburgh Fringe run this summer. How have audiences reacted to the material in London?
I think audiences have been really engaged and genuinely very surprised at how life-affirming the piece can be and also how funny it is despite the topic. It really taps into the universal experience of a life-changing event which I think audiences have found very relatable and touching.
What do you hope Edinburgh Fringe audiences take away from the show?
The same really! Anyone who watches it and walks away thinking about the things that have happened in their life and what has changed them, I think has really engaged with the story and Sam’s telling of it.
Personal theatre at the Fringe
The themes of the piece are sure to make audiences think about life differently, with the realities of Sam’s diagnosis at such a young age really hitting home. It has been great to hear about how Eleanor has approached the unique role of ‘Annie’. You can catch the show at the Pleasance Two venue at Pleasance Courtyard from Wednesday 30th July to Monday 25th August 2025 (not 31st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 12th). Performances start at midday, with tickets available via the festival’s website.
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Love Kat xxxx
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