Recently formed theatre company BeeProductions is presenting a new musical ‘Stick Together’ at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. Written by Gabby Blackie who is based at Queen Margaret University, the musical centres on a trio of students who are trapped in a Hockey locker room during a zombie invasion. With themes of girlhood, friendship and finding your voice, ‘Stick Together’ will be at theSpaceUK for the last full week of the festival. BeeProductions looks to ‘give students a voice and a platform to tell their stories’ and I couldn’t wait to hear more about their Fringe plans from Gabby.
What made you decide to start your own theatre company, BeeProductions?
BeeProductions started as a bit of a dare to myself. I’d been working on original pieces and realised that instead of waiting for someone else to give me permission to make theatre, I could just start. It became a space where stories I cared about, messy, joyful, queer, strange ones, could live. The name ‘BeeProductions’ felt right: small but determined, and always buzzing with ideas.
What inspired you to create a new musical about zombies, hockey and lesbians?
I love stories that shouldn’t work on paper but somehow do. The idea of combining zombies, hockey, and queer girlhood came from wanting to mix genres, high-stakes horror with heartfelt coming-of-age. Plus, there’s something exciting about placing queer stories in chaotic, unexpected settings. It’s a love letter to growing up, falling apart, and clinging to each other when the world ends (literally or not).
How are you exploring the themes of girlhood and friendship in ‘Stick Together’?
Girlhood can be soft and brutal, tender and terrifying, I wanted to honour that. In Stick Together, friendship is the lifeline. The girls aren’t perfect, but their bond keeps them going. We look at what happens when trust is tested, when love turns sharp, and when growing up feels like a war zone. Whether the threat is zombies or heartbreak, the heart of it is always their connection.
What can you tell me about the central characters Hazel, Zara and Keelie?
Hazel is the sunshine of the group: warm, upbeat, and always trying to keep the peace, but under that brightness is a chronic overthinker who’s terrified of getting things wrong. Zara is chaos in hockey boots: intense, magnetic, often angry, but fiercely protective of the people she loves. Keelie’s the wild card: impulsive, sharp-tongued, and constantly on the edge of fight or flight. Together, they’re a beautiful mess, navigating love, survival, and what it means to stick together when the world is literally falling apart around them.
If you were to describe the score in one word, what would it be and why?
Gut-punch. Okay, technically that’s two words, but the music aims to hit you right in the chest. It swings between raw, unfiltered emotion and big, funny anthems. There’s grit and heart in every note.
What can you tell me about how you and fellow creative Clara Ciusca are collaborating on the direction for your Fringe run?
Clara and I have very different brains in the best way, she brings a cinematic, precise eye, while I’m often throwing wild, emotional ideas at the wall. We balance each other. For the Fringe run, we’re focused on keeping the energy alive and messy, making sure every moment feels honest but heightened. It’s been a joy building this world together, full of zombies, tenderness and girlhood.
Zombies and girlhood at the Edinburgh Fringe
‘Stick Together’ certainly sounds like a bold new musical that isn’t afraid to span genres. I’m sure we can all relate to the references to being a teenager and growing up, which are clearly exacerbated by the zombie setting. You can catch the show at the Space 3 venue at theSpace on the Mile from 18 – 23 August. Performances start daily at 21:35 and tickets are available via the festival’s website.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
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