Julie Flowers talks about her Edinburgh Fringe show Grandma's Shop

Grandma’s Shop is ​​the story of an eccentric grandmother, her stray cats and her legendary second-hand Sheffield clothes shop told by her granddaughter. Written by Julie Flower, an award-winning improviser, actor and writer who is part of improv duo Twinprov and new-writing theatre group Orange Works.

We spoke with Julie Flowers, the writer and performer of Grandma’s Shop, ahead of its run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

What is Grandma’s Shop about?

The show is all about my grandma, Hilda Flower, and the second-hand clothes shop that she ran for decades in Sheffield City Centre, up until the mid-1990s.  She was an eccentric, anti-establishment pensioner shopkeeper who used the proceeds to feed dozens of stray cats.  I used to help Grandma in the shop as a girl, on Saturday mornings, and I loved it.  So the show is really about love, memory and the stories that our clothes can tell.

As it's based on a true story, what was the process of creating the show like?

Surprising, moving and fun.  I’ve delved into my childhood memories of helping my grandma in the shop, which I’ve really enjoyed.  What I wasn’t expecting was to make new discoveries about Grandma, including her involvement in an international study of eccentrics, and to hear from former customers, including punks, who remembered her in the 1970s and 80s.  I even contacted the journalist from the Guardian who wrote an article about her and found out he’d featured her in a book!  Working with a professional dramaturg and director has been amazing, she has challenged me to move from a traditional style of storytelling to something much more theatrical, and to bring out some of the more universal themes.

Who are you performing as in the show? 

A whole range of characters!  My present-day, 47 year-old self, as well as my 12 year-old, childhood self in the shop.  And then I multi-role a host of shop customers in the 1980s, as well as the co-ordinator of a family history in the present.  The only character we never hear from directly, and I never play, is Grandma herself…we learn about her from everyone else!

What do you want audiences to take away from this?

I’d love audiences to think about the ‘ordinary, yet extraordinary’ people in their own lives, their families and their communities.  And to connect with the power of memory, nostalgia and love.  I hope they’ll also find it very atmospheric…there are quite a few vintage clothes and props.

Can you share one of your favourite memories of your Grandma?

Grandma would always send me to find stock for the annual student Pyjama Jump from the storerooms upstairs, which were full to the ceiling with plastic carrier bags of clothes. She would always be very enthusiastic about my finds.  One time, I remember discovering an amazing purple sparkly flared catsuit.  Grandma priced it high as she said it was ‘bad taste’ and would be in high demand.  She was right, of course.  I climbed into the window to hang it up and a young woman saw me and walked straight in to buy it!

Grandma’s Shop is at Gilded Balloon, Patter Hoose (Snug), 31 July - 26 Aug 2024 (not 12), 12.20 (13.20). For tickets go to https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/julie-flower-grandma-s-shop