Locked In Thought Theatre Company are bringing their new LGBTQ+ play to the Edinburgh Fringe this year – writer Ryan Lithgow tells us more about the show.
“The play is a camp workplace comedy set in a celestial bureaucracy where pop divas are treated as religious figures. When a rogue employee accidentally merges the religions of three modern pop icons, the department must deal with the chaos of creating an entirely new faith before it spreads to Earth.”
Where: Studio at theSpace @ Niddry St
When: 17-22 Aug
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-powerpop-girls-a-new-diva-religion
What can you tell us about your show? What is it about and where did the idea come from?
The Powerpop Girls: A New Diva Religion is a camp, queer comedy set in a celestial bureaucracy where pop divas function as organised religions. When an unauthorised new faith suddenly appears and begins to rapidly spread to Earth, overwhelmed worker Millie, their chaotic colleague Zee, and their rule-bound boss Mr X are forced to intervene before their department collapses under the weight of the new religion’s rapid growth.
Originally, the idea for the show came from a meme I saw comparing the Powerpuff Girls to Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX. At first, I just thought it was funny, but the more I looked at it, the more I realised it had accidentally captured a really specific cultural moment. During the summer of 2024, it felt like Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter and Brat Summer (Charli XCX) were everywhere all at once. It felt like I was watching pop culture history happen in real time. I wanted to capture that moment on stage before it disappeared and became nostalgia.
How would you sell it to audiences in one paragraph?
The show is basically a cartoon brought to life. It’s loud, bright, camp and queer, packed full of pop culture references, workplace chaos and three employees trying to stop a new diva religion from taking over Earth. If your Spotify Listening Evolution has ever called you a “Pink Pilates Princess”, then congratulations, you are exactly our target audience.
Do you enjoy participating in the Fringe? And do you have any moments you particularly remember?
This will actually be my first Edinburgh Fringe as a writer, which is both incredibly exciting and slightly terrifying. I’ve performed at the Fringe before, but being on the other side of the process feels very different. What I love most about the Fringe is the beautiful chaos of it all. You can walk down the Royal Mile and discover something completely unexpected within minutes. There is an energy to the Fringe that doesn’t really exist anywhere else, and as a writer I’m excited to be part of that for the first time.
What are you looking forward to the most in Edinburgh?
The atmosphere. During August, Edinburgh becomes unlike anywhere else in the world. The city feels alive twenty-four hours a day, with artists, audiences and performers all packed into one place sharing work and discovering new things. I’m also looking forward to seeing as many shows as possible and supporting other artists. Some of my favourite Fringe memories have come from stumbling into shows I knew absolutely nothing about, in venues I have never seen before.
What’s next for the show?
World domination… although that’s probably more of a long-term goal. In all seriousness, I’ve learned that this show has a habit of appearing whenever the timing feels right. What began as a small idea inspired by a meme has already taken on a life of its own, and I’m excited to see where it goes next. Whether that’s further productions, future developments, or finding new audiences, I have a feeling The Powerpop Girls isn’t finished causing chaos just yet.