After 18 successful years at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the multi-award winning Bite Size Plays is set to make its highly anticipated debut in London, at the Pleasance Theatre this spring. We took the opportunity to speak with Nick Brice, the creator of Bite Size Plays to tell us more about this dynamic and engaging production.
Q) Hello - before we begin can you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit more about The Big Bite Size Show?
I’m Nicholas Brice, the founder of The Big Bite-Size Breakfast Show, which has been performing at the Edinburgh Fringe for the past 18 years. We create fast-paced, engaging, and highly entertaining short-form theatre productions.
Each show features a ‘menu’ of ten-minute plays, offering a dynamic mix of comedy, eccentricity, and the odd mini drama. It’s theatre that’s designed to be digestible, thought- provoking, and most of all great fun.
The Big Bite-Size Show is a version of this award-winning show with the added bonus of a fresh strawberry on arrival!
Q) You are the founder of The Big Bite Size Show, what was your inspiration for creating this show?
For me, great theatre and comedy connects us to things that matter. I love the power of short, impactful storytelling – and have been inspired by just how much meaning can be packed into the ten-minute play format. I started writing these as far back as 2003 and made the finals of an international short playwriting competition in 2005. I wanted to create a channel where emerging writers, directors, and performers could showcase high-quality short plays on the international stage.
Q) Your work has been at the Edinburgh Fringe for the last 18 years - what have you learnt about yourself as a theatre-maker and your show from spending time at Ed Fringe?
I’ve learnt a lot about the importance of authenticity in creating engaging characters and storylines. I’ve learnt that getting 300 people to brave the cold and come to theatre at 10.30 in the morning is about creating and end-to-end experience. From flyering, to social media, and right through to the show – it is all so much more than just what can feel like herding cattle in and out of a theatre. I want to create connections: writer with actors, actors with characters, characters and story with audience. Even when the idea behind the play is bonkers, it can still be for real.
Q) What’s your process for selecting the stories for The Big Bite Size Show - are there any themes/plots that you tend to gravitate towards?
We review hundreds of plays each year to find the ones that are sharp, memorable, and emotionally resonant. We’re always looking for plays that challenge perspectives, reveal something unexpected, or spark joy and laughter. Themes often revolve around very human stories, but we also love plays that are completely off-the-wall and a bit bonkers.
For this London run, we’ve curated a mix of audience favourites from 2006-2024, which have been freshly reworked. We’re constantly on the lookout for fresh, bold writing that captivates
in just ten minutes. The plays that work in a Bite-Size Show are much more than just scratch ideas on route to development as full-length plays. They are mini-masterpieces that work better because they are just ten minutes long.
Q) What can audiences expect from The Big Bite Size Show and why should audiences come along?
Expect an exciting mix of theatrical treats in a single show - from a space crew reuniting after years apart to high-stakes political miscommunication - each play is designed to entertain, engage, and excite.
It’s a different kind of theatre experience - accessible, fast-paced, and packed with variety. There’s something for everyone! With different menus of plays being performed across these two weeks in March and four weeks in Brighton in May, you can come again and again and experience completely different shows!
And remember – we’ll be there to greet you with a fresh strawberry and a warm welcome!
