Review: Of Fire and Flame, Fringe 2025

In the last couple of years, the rise of ‘romantasy’ – a genre blending romance and fantasy – has been meteoric (at least in my Tiktok).

While traditional fantasy like The Lord of the Rings might focus on heroes battling Balrogs, romantasy heroes are more likely to be found “frolicking” with elves. Of Fire and Flame is a story of a young woman with anxiety and a chronic pain condition who uses this genre as a form of escapism. This one-woman play, expertly told, cuts between the two worlds: the harsh reality of real life with weird flatmates and the much more attractive, if dangerous, fantasy world.

A Tale of Two Worlds

The writing from Emma Zetterberg is clever, creating a challenging and compelling proposition that avoids the evil fate of being an hour of fan fiction read aloud. Lily Edwards’s superb performance truly brings the script to life. Edwards has an extraordinarily expressive face, and her looks of scorn, discontent, and the romantic grimaces that cross her mouth are a treasure to watch.

The play is an affectionate parody of the romantasy genre, especially when we are in the fantasy world of Callythia, but the real-life drama is far darker. The show tackles a serious issue that often goes unaddressed: the medical community’s tendency to dismiss female health complaints. It is an issue we all know about, but little seems to be done, and Of Fire and Flame shines a much-needed light on it.

The Power of Performance

After the first 20 minutes, I was engaged, but I began to wonder whether Edwards could sustain the intensity for the full hour. I needn’t have worried. If anything, the performance got better as the story unfolded, and time flew by. This play includes time jumps, a feature that anyone with a chronic health condition will recognise; nothing happens quickly. The show gets to the heart of what it is like to deal with a medical system that is both slow and often unhelpful.

I recommend Of Fire and Flame to anyone with at least some exposure to the ‘steamy’ romantic fantasies it affectionately parodies. If you’re unfamiliar with the genre, you might struggle to form an empathetic connection with our lead (she’s not a weirdo) and find yourself wondering what’s going on, thinking it’s more of a ‘preach’ than a ‘play’. But for those in the know, this is a friendly, heartfelt parody that is both hilarious and poignant. I was happily surprised, and this is going on my recommended list.

Overall

Of Fire and Flame is a clever, expertly performed one-woman show that navigates two contrasting worlds with skill and humour. It balances a loving parody of the romantasy genre with a much darker, poignant look at chronic pain and the female experience. Lily Edwards’s performance is captivating, and the script is both funny and deeply moving. This show is a must-see for fans of the genre and anyone who appreciates a powerful, well-told story.