Always on
This project successfully funded on 14th August 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
Over The Top
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Aim
War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing.... apart from really good Downton Abbey fanfiction.
We’re taking OVER THE TOP to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025, and we need your help to get there!
This show is an act of pure, chaotic love: love for fandom, for historical accuracy, and for the kinds of stories queer tumblr users write when they’re midway through a quarter-life crisis.
It’s also a chance to platform an unapologetically neurodivergent voice in comedy to Fringe audiences this summer.
We’re So Close…
The show is written and performed by comedian Jessica Durand. She teamed up with a brilliant director, secured an amazing venue in Edinburgh, and did a promo photoshoot in a historically accurate WW1 uniform.
All that’s left is to fund the final push to help pay the creatives involved and let us afford marketing to ensure the show is a success!
Why It Matters
Fanfiction is where so many queer, neurodivergent, and marginalised people first learn how to tell stories. It’s where we see ourselves in worlds that often exclude us. It’s where we put our weird little obsessions and our hearts.
OVER THE TOP is both a satire and a love letter to fandom. It’s about giving yourself permission to write yourself into the narrative - literally.
Why This Show Is Special?
- A one-woman historical fanfiction meltdown? I mean… you won’t see that anywhere else.
- Written and performed by an emerging voice in comedy who has read over 5 million words of fic about the evil gay butler from Downton Abbey
- Queer and Neurodiversity-led creative team
- No war knowledge? No problem!
Milestones So Far
✅ Script finished
✅ Director and creative team secured
✅ Preview performances tested and tweaked
✅ Fringe venue booked
✅ Design, costumes, and tech mapped out
✅ Initial audience laughs successfully harvested
Where Your Money Goes
We’re fundraising £3657.50 to cover the following:
- Paying our wonderful creative team and tech support fairly (£2000)
- Paying for PR and marketing (£575)
- Paying for social media filming and advertising (£425)
- Paying our flyerers (£500)
- Transaction fees (£157.50)
Every penny helps bring this chaotic, heartfelt, fanfictional comedy to life!
What People Are Saying
“This is the most hilariously absurd fanfiction promo that I have ever seen”
- Preview Audience Member
“Suprisingly erotically charged and brilliantly performed”
- Preview Audience Member
“Who would’ve thought that a fanfic about WW1 could be so funny?!”
- Preview Audience Member
FAQs
Do I need to know Downton Abbey to enjoy the show?
Absolutely not.
Is this a real fanfic?
Jessica refuses to confirm or deny. You’ll have to come see it.
Can I still donate even if I can’t attend?
Yes please! Every donation helps!
Will there be merch?
Yes!! If we reach our goal there will be merch !
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made