Cheers, Mom - Edfringe 2025

NYC-based writer, filmmaker and performer Candice Fox is bringing her show, Cheers, Mom! Eulogy For a Living Parent to the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Following themes from much of her work exploring addiction, family dynamics and the complexities of human relationships, Cheers, Mom! is a wild, hilarious solo show about grief, love and mommy issues. Fox dives into the chaos of loss and a complex mother-daughter saga, blending raw storytelling with striking visuals. 

Can you give us a sneak peek into your show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe? What can audiences expect when they come to see your performance?

This is an hour long “traumedy” about mommy issues, booze, and boundaries. Audiences can expect to laugh until they cry, cry until they laugh, and be emotionally moved in unexpected ways. Centered around the five stages of grief and estrangement from an alcoholic parent, there are plenty of bizarre moments.to keep the show from ever veering too dark, albeit perhaps a little emotionally unhinged and off the rails at times.

The Edinburgh Fringe is known for its vibrant and diverse atmosphere. How do you plan to engage with the festival audience and create a memorable experience for them?

The show itself will definitely be an experience for them because it encapsulates such a dynamic range of emotions and is told with brutal honesty. Beyond that, I plan to connect with audiences out on the streets of the festival wearing a t-shirt that says “Do you have mommy issues?” To invite people into conversation about the show’s topic while out and about.

As a performer at the Edinburgh Fringe, what are you most excited about? Are there any specific aspects of the festival that you are looking forward to exploring?

I am most excited to have the opportunity to perform in front of such a diverse audience and be amongst people and artists from all different backgrounds. I’m really looking forward to checking out a range of different shows to garner inspiration and to be reminded that humanity (at its core) is good, despite the fact that oftentimes this whole goddamn world feels like its on fire and it’s easy to forget why art is so critical always, though especially in times like these.

Your show incorporates elements of feminism and women's experiences. Could you share how these themes are woven into the narrative or performance? What inspired you to explore these particular topics?

Yes, it absolutely does which may come as a surprise to most who haven’t seen it. Since the show it’s centered around mother-daughter relationships, the experience of being female came into play in a huge way. In particular, during the “anger” stage of grief since so many women are told to behave a certain way and are generally taught not to embrace anger or really ever express it at all, god forbid you are accused of being a crazy bitch just for speaking up for yourself or expressing a very natural human emotion honestly. I wanted to find a way to take my somewhat unique (though sadly not entirely) experience and make it more broadly relatable to women. Society often tells us we should remain “calm, pretty, and nice” despite the injustices and predatory threats we constantly endure. The topic of childbearing ties into the show in a huge way as well since anyone who walks the face of this earth all came from a woman’s body. I   find this to be really powerful and a bizarre connective tissue that we all have tied to female reproductive organs. Even from a more sterile and scientific perspective it’s just fascinating to me.

Have you encountered any unique challenges or obstacles in the industry? How do you navigate these challenges, and what advice would you give to other women pursuing careers in the arts?

Oof - where do I begin? HA! My background was as a professional dancer for many years during the course of which I was constantly objectified and pitted up against other women. It was really damaging and volatile and reductive. I’ve since done a lot of work to heal those parts of my body and mind that suffered from my time spent entrenched in the dance industry. I do think it’s changed since my days in it, though I still think there’s a lot of progress which can still be made. I think I’ve been underestimated a lot, both because I am a woman and I am of a petite stature and present fairly young and girlish. There have been a lot of times where I have to fight to be taken seriously or for my voice to be heard. My advice to the other women would be to create your own narrative about who you are and what you’re capable of a listen to nothing and no one else!

What do you hope audiences will take away from your show, especially in terms of the feminist and women-centric themes? Is there a specific message or emotion you aim to leave them with?

I think this show will have audiences reflecting on their own relationships with their mothers, regardless of whether they reflect mine in any way at all. I also think there may be a deeper understanding of female rage as an acceptable thing that should (daresay?!) even be celebrated. As for the message, I hope people walk away feeling a sense of empathy and forgiveness towards their parents. 

SHOW DETAILS

Venue: C Venues - Aquila Studio

Dates: August 1-17 (no show the 4th or 11th)

Times: 13:30

Book Tickets Here