“Unfortunately, intense misogyny didn’t die in the Noughties”: This Fringe show takes on the messy, maddening reality of being a woman in pop

The Pop Princess is so back. The taller the heels, the brighter the glitter, and the more outfit changes, the better. And what better moment than now to revisit the golden era of girly-pop — the Noughties — with its choreo-heavy music videos, matching mini skirts, and tabloid meltdowns.

Enter Girl Pop!, a new musical hitting the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August. Styled as the “reunion” of a globally adored 2000s girl group, the show blends pop bangers, Y2K nostalgia and a sharp emotional undercurrent — revisiting the intense scrutiny, toxic beauty ideals, and media misogyny that so often defined the time.

It’s as fun as it is fearless. From half-hearted shimmies on breakfast TV to full-blown scandal, the characters relive the highs and humiliations of their heyday. But this isn’t just a camp throwback — it’s also a bold, often biting commentary on what it meant (and still means) to be a woman in the spotlight.

With original songs, comedy, and a cast of chaotic icons, Girl Pop! aims to cut through the noise of the Fringe with something that feels both nostalgic and necessary. As the creators told us, “We had our girls, gays and theys in mind from the start.” We knew this was one show Quine readers had to know about.

We sat down with director and producer Sophie Cairns, and playwright and actor Kiran Benawra, to talk friendship, fame, and why misogyny didn’t end when the girlbands stopped topping the charts.

What brought you to the Edinburgh Fringe this year and what should audiences expect?

(SOPHIE) James (my co-producer) and I were on the hunt for a show to bring to Fringe — something fun, with big audience appeal, but also a bit of substance. We were looking for a story that felt joyful and smart, but also had a strong emotional core.

We had over 200 submissions, and Girl Pop! was hands-down our favourite. It’s got everything we were hoping for: original pop bangers, hilarious and complex characters, and a heartfelt story about friendship, ambition, and what happens when women try to take back the spotlight. Expect music, mayhem, and a lot of feelings — in the best possible way.

Who is this show for? What was the target audience you had in mind when bringing it to fruition?

Girl Pop! is for anyone who grew up screaming the lyrics of a girl band anthem into a hairbrush whilst dancing in front of their bedroom mirror, for anyone who speaks fluent hun, and for anyone who finds joy and community in pop culture/music. We had our girls, gays and theys in mind from the start — particularly folks who love musicals and comedy with bite.

It’s got that nostalgic glow of the early 2000s girl group era, but with a fresh, empowering twist. If you’re into shows like SIX or & Juliet, and you want something that’s fun, fierce, and actually says something — this is for you.

We all love some girly pop. Who were your inspirations when producing the music, choreography, and characters?

(KIRAN) I have a soft spot for British girl bands from the 00s — Girls Aloud, The Sugababes, and The Saturdays in particular. So they have all been an inspiration for the music, and maybe some of the characters, in Girl Pop! I feel like girl bands and women in pop have been having a renaissance lately (which I love to see) so there are some more contemporary influences too — Katseye, Flo, Say Now and Jade, to name a few. There are some cheesy pop parody moments in the play too, think S Club 7 or B*witched vibes.

We haven’t started the choreography yet but Fifth Harmony, Hilary Duff, and any popstar doing a half-hearted shimmy on GMTV at 7:42am are definitely references I have in mind.

Amongst the festival mayhem, are there any other Fringe acts you’re dying to see?

(SOPHIE) There are a lot of romances blossoming this year! I just saw the duo behind Awkward Productions (and the geniuses behind my favourite Princess Diana piss-take) are getting married on stage. There’s also Married At Fringe Sight and Looking for Laughs where audiences go on dates and/or get married on stage?! Mental. Gilded Balloon are also championing a lot of female-led stories this year as they celebrate their 40th birthday, and I’m excited to catch shows like Well Behaved Women and the Women in Comedy line-up.

(KIRAN) I love seeing new comedy at the Fringe. I’m particularly excited for Tara Boland’s Dusty Creases: Dance Your Life Away, Su Mi: THISMOTHERPHUCKER, and Andrew Doherty’s Sad Gay AIDS Play. I really want to go and see other shows at the Gilded Balloon too — A Stan is Born, Pals, and Holy Shit Improv have all caught my eye so far.

The characters in Girl Pop! were at the height of their fame in the Noughties — a time of intense misogyny, unrealistic beauty standards, and endless criticism in tabloids. How does the play deal with these themes and what do you hope viewers take away from it?

(KIRAN) I’ve attempted to tackle these big topics with humour, heart, and tongue-in-cheek pop songs. The play definitely has fun nostalgic references but it also doesn’t look at the era through rose-tinted glasses. Each character shares their experience with fame, fortune and misfortune. Unfortunately, intense misogyny, unrealistic beauty standards and endless criticism didn’t die in the Noughties. Everyone, famous or not, is still impacted by these themes. As the show is set up as a reunion gig, I hope the audience feels part of a community for an hour, dealing with the issues collectively rather than alone… and with a song and dance thrown in.

How long has the team, on stage and off, been preparing this Edinburgh Fringe show?

It’s been about six months in the making so far — from finding the show, to R&D, writing the music, and casting the brilliant team. And we haven’t even started rehearsals yet. It’s been a whirlwind of planning, plotting, and pop-song brainstorming, and we can’t wait to get into the room and bring it all to life.

Did any of your works from the past help you develop this play?

(KIRAN) Ever since I was a kid I’ve been obsessed with girl groups so I think I’ve been developing this idea from childhood, when I spent my days pretending to be a Spice Girl. I am a student of pop music, and my speciality subject is girl bands. I love the music, their friendships, chaotic fly-on-the-wall docs, and showstopping concerts. A song that I wrote as a child has made it into the play — does that count as a past work?!

Some of my previous projects cover similar themes of female friendship and the exploitation of women. My play Cookie Jar (Abeille Theatre, The Space, 2022) was set at a media company in the near future and delved into how AI could be weaponised against women. Girl Pop! looks more to the past and the media’s portrayal of women in the Noughties.

I’m also part of several improv comedy teams and I think this has influenced my writing, especially with Girl Pop! as it’s a playful ensemble show.

Finally, what are you most excited about leading up to the Fringe?

Definitely getting Girl Pop! in front of an audience and watching people bop along to the tunes — that’s what we’re most excited for. There’s nothing like that first laugh from a real crowd.

But also the whole Fringe vibe. The atmosphere is electric — you’re surrounded by some of the best artists in the world, total chaos, parties every night, and just this wild creative energy buzzing through the city.

And we can’t wait to hang out as a team for a whole month. It’s intense, it’s messy, and it’s probably the best bonding experience you could ever ask for.

Get tickets for Girl Pop! at the Edinburgh Fringe on the Fringe website: edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/girl-pop.