You know how much we like to hear from Fringe newcomers here at ThreeWeeks and, actually, we also like to hear from people who are coming a long way to participate in our beloved edfringe.

So I think it’s about time we spoke to someone who sits in both those categories, don’t you? Especially as they have a really exciting and intriguing show for us. 

‘no no no please no god no, nevermind i’m fine’ is the debut Fringe show from Sarina Freda, who hails from the west coast of the US, but currently lives and works in New York City. It’s about a life changing hallucinogenic experience, and it sounds both fascinating and funny. 

I spoke to her to find out more about the show, and her hopes and expectations, of Edinburgh, and the future. 

CM: Can you start by telling us what to expect from the show in terms of storyline? Who is it about and where does the narrative take us?
SF: This show is about the most harrowing LSD trip in recorded human history, in which one woman understands the intricacies of space and time and her newfound, unparalleled, impenetrable control over the universe. Until it isn’t. 

CM: What themes do you explore through the show?
SF: Our show delves into the intricate and multifaceted nature of mental health. Social media and our cultural zeitgeist tends to oversimplify mental health issues, but the reality is far more complex.

Through comedy and clowning, our story of a powerful LSD experience gone wrong (?) challenges the prevailing narrative, revealing the profound depth and diversity of mental well-being.

CM: How would you describe the show in terms of style and/or genre? 
SF: To answer the question fully would mean to give away too many of our surprises. But the show begins as comedic storytelling of a life-threatening matter, that balances between playful delight and risk-taking honesty. Then, it gets physical. 

CM: What made you decide to explore these ideas through this kind of show? What was the inspiration? 
SF: My incredible collaborator and director Tom Costello and I started having conversations about the show three years ago.

We got a coffee after not seeing each other for a while and I told him the story of my acid trip. It turned into a very emotional conversation, both of us revealing and articulating things we had yet to discuss.

The conversation was electric and neither of us wanted it to end. So it didn’t. Here we are, three years later, still mystified by our psychedelic findings but confident in the attempt we’ve made to manifest these complicated, torturous and wondrous feelings on stage. 

CM: What made you decide to bring it to the Edinburgh Fringe? 
SF: Where else could we possibly go for the hungriest audiences searching for something truly challenging, risky, life-affirming and absolutely nuts?

We’re coming to the Fringe to be surrounded by the best creators and the most generous audience members in the world. 

CM: Have you been to edfringe before? What are your hopes and expectations for your time there? 
SF: I went to the Fringe as a spectator last year for the first time and I was like, “why did no one ever tell me it was like this?!” It was a spiritual experience and I had to be a part of it.

Obviously the festival can be an incredible career maker, but the spirit of the Festival is full of people who really love performing and story-telling and nothing more. I cannot wait to participate amongst them.

CM: Are you planning to take in other shows while you are there? 
SF: Xhloe x Natasha, last – two! – year’s winners of a Scotsman’s Fringe First, who are performing ‘What If They Ate The Baby’ at theSpace @ Niddry Street! We are all part of the What Co Theater Collective in NYC and they have been incredible supporters of mine. I’m so excited to see their newest piece. 

And I can’t wait to see all the spectacular clowning shows I can cram into my time, especially ‘TROLL’, which I missed last year and am so glad they are returning!

Also: ‘Jamie Denbo: Beverly Live!’ at Gilded Balloon Patter House. I saw Jamie’s show in NYC and cried laughing. She is a genius and unmissable. Ruuuuunnnnn to see comedy excellence. I’m also travelling to the Fringe with a spectacular collective of artists under The Brooklyn Bottling Company, which includes seven shows. I’d recommend seeing everyone’s shows!

CM: Can we talk about what brought you to this point? Did you always want to work in the arts? What steps did you take to begin your career?
SF: It’s funny, it never really felt like a decision. I was always going to do this and I’ve always had a lot of confidence about that. However, the pandemic and the time since has been very sobering.

There wasn’t a lot happening – I was primarily acting at the time – and it was, of course, very discouraging. But I think because of that lack, I needed a purpose, which brought me to the development of this project and I’ve never been more proud of anything in my life. 

CM: Can you tell us about The What Co Theatre Company and your involvement in it? 
SF: The What Co is a collective in NYC of incredible theatre makers. We meet once a month to share our work, no matter what stage we are in our process of development, to get feedback and thoughts.

In April 2023 we were lucky enough to go on a small writing retreat for a week. This was the first time I ever got to do nothing but think about my play and this really catapulted the project into action.

Opportunities like this are crucial for an artist and I am so grateful to them for making it happen and continuing to give me an artistic home.

CM: I know it’s early days, but what have been the highlights of your work in the arts thus far? 
SF: When I was in my third year of training at NYU, I played Medea in the Greek tragedy, and it just so happened that the great actress and director Diane Ladd was there that night. She was moved enough by my work to insist on becoming my mentor and we have grown extremely close over the years.

Having her in my life has meant everything to me. Her greatest lesson has been to dream and work without doubt. Even at her age, she refuses to stop. That tenacity and faith has given me more inspiration than I can even put into words. I am so grateful to her. 

CM: What aims and hopes do you have for the future?
SF: As I created my team for this project I realised how many unbelievably talented, driven and brilliant people there are in my network. It got me so excited about working with them and others more consistently in the future.

I just want to keep working with amazing people and make work that really provokes folks into action or emotional reflection. I’d also love to be in a Yorgos Lanthimos film. 

CM: What hopes do you have for this show in the future? Will you keep performing it? 
SF: Post-Fringe, I am eager to perform this story more widely, including adapting it for other media because, at the end of the day, I fully believe in this story and character.

There are a lot of ideas we had that couldn’t really translate to theatre, so I am looking forward to bringing some of those back and seeing where that takes us.

CM: Do you have any new projects in development?
SF: I’m working on a short called ‘Lost Dogs’ with one of my best friends, Lulu Fairclough-Stewart. She’s one of the funniest people I know.

We work together so well and we’ve been working on this project for so long. It’s essentially about a girl with no purpose who falls platonically in love with a dog. I am so excited! It’s gonna be weird.

CM: What’s coming up next for you after Edinburgh?
SF: Rest rest rest please rest!!!!!!! Then I’ll be working on a new play in the fall, but I don’t think I can say more!

‘no no no please no god no, nevermind i’m fine’ was performed at theSpaceTriplex at Edinburgh Festival 2024.

LINKS: sarinafreda.com | www.instagram.com/sarinafredanonono  

Photo: Juan Carlos Quimper