Fringe debut dawns for director Ellie

CASTLE Douglas born director Ellie Stevens is ‘thrilled’ to be taking her play to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival next week

The 26-year-old will be heading to the festival with her writing theatre company company Dark Skies Ensemble for a 37 day run of ‘The Strongest Girl in the World’.

It is a funny, nostalgic and heartfelt play about love, loss, and summer camp. It tells the story of Truly’s father, who died when she was ten. She doesn’t remember him clearly, so instead she has collected songs and stories from others to piece together a picture of who he was. Through music, and storytelling, she embarks on a journey to rediscover her father and, in doing so, reconnects with her childhood self. It’s a story of fear and bravery, grief and growth. A love letter to her dad, and to the sassy young girl who really was the strongest girl in the world.

Ellie has been working on the play alongside her collaborator and actor Truly Siskind-Weiss since 2023 and the pair have just returned from New York where they spent two weeks rehearsing and performing a sold-out run at an Off-Broadway venue.

Now back on home turf, Ellie is looking forward to their Fringe run. She said: “I’m so proud of how the show has taken shape. I worked hard to bring out the visual storytelling and the emotional range of the piece. Although it’s a deeply personal story, it speaks to something universal, and I’ve been moved by how it’s resonating with audiences. As well as directing the piece, I was also the designer, served as dramaturg, and created and operated the lighting and sound. It’s been a real labour of love, and I’m thrilled that it’s reaching wider audiences both here and internationally.”

The Strongest Girl in the World will be performed at

Gilded Balloon – Patter House from July 30 to August 25, for more information visit: tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk and search ‘The Strongest Girl in the World’.