Interview: You and Me (and Whoever Comes Next) Keron Day
You and Me (and Whoever Comes Next) is a play written and performed by Keron Day, based on a real-life story. The winner of the Summerhall Mary Dick Award and supported by Keron's local theatre, Hall for Cornwall, the play unpacks the complex relationship between a disabled person and their carer. Keron Day is an acclaimed disabled performer and activist, known for Kirkmoor (BBC) and Sex Education (Netflix). You and Me (and Whoever Comes Next) is his debut play. Alex Howarth is a former care worker and the first director in history to have his work performed at the United Nations.
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/you-and-me-and-whoever-comes-next
Venue: Patch of Blue and 3hc
When: 6th - 31st August 2026 (not 12th, 18th and 25th):
Could you tell us a bit more about the show and your role?
‘You and Me (and Whoever Comes Next)’ explores the relationship between a disabled person and their PA, something which is fundamental to my life, having had full-time PAs to support me since I was 18. It explores the devastating impact of bad care and the extraordinary impact of good care. It tackles some serious subject matter but is also, I hope, really funny and touching.
The title You and Me and Whoever Comes Next is so beautiful. How did you come up with it and how does it connect to the story?
Thank you! The title refers to the regular turn-over of my PAs. I never know when one is going to get a better paid job, or just decide it’s not for them anymore and move on. While the play focuses on my relationship with one PA, it also asks how you have such a close working relationship with someone who might leave at any minute, and the impact that can have on your life.
What was the initial movement or spark that led to the creation of this piece?
The play is inspired by my real life experiences. I have come at it from the point of view of a disabled person who has care, my co-writer Alex has brought the perspective of the carer as this is a job he used to do, and our co-writer Helen has brought the insight of someone who has been friends with me for years and known me while the events that we depict in the play were happening. We want to give the audience a glimpse into a relationship that is rarely, if ever, depicted onstage, and ask them to consider the caring relationships in their own lives. I really hope that the audience can see both care, and disability issues more broadly, as not an 'us and them' issue but instead just an 'us' issue. Everyone is either disabled or pre-disabled; everyone has a stake in how we conduct care, and ultimately should care about care.
What was the most rewarding or challenging part of bringing this story to life with the cast during rehearsals?
We start rehearsals in a few weeks. The most challenging part of the writing process though has definitely been honing all my experiences into an hour long show! It’s such a huge topic and so editing and ‘killing our darlings’ has been a huge part of the process. Hopefully what we’ve ended up with is something that makes people think more about a really important topic, but also has a really compelling relationship and story at the heart of it that will speak to everyone.
What can people expect when they come to see the show, both story-wise and set-wise?
I will be playing myself, and the audience will also meet the character Dani, who is my PA, and follow us as we get to know each other, and the challenges we face as two strangers working together who also become friends. It has a brilliant original folk-infused score from the brilliant Merle Powell-Smith from the band Masa performed live. We were lucky enough to win the Summerhall Mary Dick Award, which has made it possible for us to bring the show to the Fringe. We're going to be rehearsing and previewing the show at my local theatre, Hall for Cornwall, which we're really excited about, and we can't wait to share this story that we've been working on for almost two years now with an audience for the first time.
Since this is your first play, what are you most looking forward to about bringing it to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival?
I am most excited to be in a space full of brilliant creatives. Outside of performing, I will try to be an audience member of as many shows as I can. My aim is to become an Edinburgh Fringe 2026 expert!
More information on: https://www.patchofblue.org/shows
