We caught up with Jamie Walsh, the co-creator and writer of the The Uncrackable Case, a new show coming to this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It’s the result of a huge collaborative effort with Front Room Productions, director Olivia Race, dramaturg Alice Barber, composers Claire O’Connor and Bay Bryan. It’s a comedy court room drama featuring fairy tale characters. We caught up with Jamie to find out more.
How would you pitch Uncrackable Case to fans of Horrible Histories?
It’s fast, funny and packed with songs. A fever dream of mis-remembered fairytales, silly jokes and big characters. With a giant egg at the centre of it all.
And how would you pitch it to someone who is really into Once Upon A Time?
The Uncrackable Case unravels fairy-tale characters with secrets, old grudges and a lot more drama than you remember from the storybooks.
What came first, the message or the story?
The story. We asked “What if Humpty Dumpty didn’t just fall. What if something more sinister occurred?” And that opened a whole can of worms that became this very insane musical.
What’s the oddest thing you’ve done to get this show made?
So many odd things. But probably go through the costume designs with our Set and Costume Designer Celia Perkins. All of the cast play many characters and we need to signify giant talking egg, pigs, a tin-foil-hat-wearing conspiracy theorist to name a few. Celia definitely rose to the challenge!
Why the Edinburgh Fringe?
We set out to make something FUN. And that’s what the fringe is all about. It’s the best place to test something new, meet audiences, and connect with other artists.
How similar is this to other projects you’ve worked on?
It’s playful, accessible, collaborative, which is what I usually aim for on projects. However, it’s more musical and more ridiculous than anything I’ve done before.
What is your favourite moment in the show?
My favourite part of the show is a raucous jazz club number back-to-back with a big power ballad. It should give you whiplash but it just works.
Is the Big Bad Wolf the original horror movie slasher, and why?
He definitely has that energy. Mysterious, misunderstood and always in the shadows.
Where else can we see you?
The Fringe is the main focus for now. But the plan is to tour in 2026/2027.
What’s next?
Get cracking with booking that tour…
Sleeping Beauty or Cinderella?
Cinderella. One night, one glass slipper and she makes a lasting impression. Unforgettable, even in wildly impractical footwear.
Wolves or Dragons?
Wolves.
Truth or Beauty?
Truth. Always more interesting.
You can book tickets for The Uncrackable Case here. It is running at the Edinburgh Fringe until the 25th of July.
Check out our features on 2025’s Top Returning shows, and our keenly anticipated picks of new shows.
