Welcome back to our Offbeat Spotlight series. Over the next few days we're highlighting all the strange and wonderful things that the Offbeat Festival has to offer. The Offbeat Festival runs from the 9th-15th of September, and is a collaboration between The Old Fire Station, Oxford Playhouse, New Theatre and Gloucester Green Market. In addition to a multitude of shows, there are also workshops, and exhibition, late night events including a poetry slam, comedy scratch night, and listening party, and more.
Here, we catch up with Hannah Fredsgaard-Jones, the creative mind behind Pigeons in Transit, an innovative solo show that blends together narrative with pre-recorded musicals compositions as well live vocals and multiple instruments. Fredsgaard-Jones uses this one-woman orchestra to explore timely topics including climate change, conspiracy theories, and the neverending search for meaning and hope. Read on to find out more.
Daily Information: Hello Hannah, thanks so much for taking the time to talk with us. First up, could you talk a bit about what inspired you to create Pigeons in Transit?
Hannah Fredsgaard-Jones: The idea came to me in the strangest way—while I was diving into family history, I found out my great-grandfather was a judge in Danish pigeon racing! I never met him, but it sparked this deep fascination with pigeons. I was amazed by their history, from their role in ancient Olympics to delivering messages during wars. One night, I had a vivid dream about the first scene of the show, and I knew I had to write it down. That’s how Pigeons in Transit was born.
DI: Your show uses highly inventive musical compositions to tackle the often anxiety-inducing topic of climate change. What made you want to approach the subject through this lens?
HFJ: Climate change is such a huge and often overwhelming issue, so I wanted to approach it in a way that felt more personal and creative. Music has always been my outlet, and I think it can reach people in a deeper, more emotional way. By combining sound, storytelling, and a bit of surrealism, I feel like I can express the anxieties we all have about climate change, but in a way that feels imaginative rather than just scary or hopeless.
DI: What have your previous performances looked like? Would you say this is more of a departure or a continuation from your previous creative work?
HFJ:In some ways it’s both a departure and a return. Before I decided to commit to a career in music I was utterly devoted to theatre. Somehow my life took a different turn and I ended up in music. I’ve always been into exploring niche topics, like turning pedestrian tunnel sounds or slug slime trails into music. But Pigeons in Transit is bigger—it’s more theatrical, more surreal and a real fusion of my love for storytelling through technology words, and music. Still, it’s rooted in my love for exploring unusual subjects. I guess I’m still that person obsessed with finding beauty in strange, everyday things, but now I'm tackling something much bigger, like climate change, through that lens.
DI: Who is this ‘perfect for fans of’? If you had to compare the vibes of your show to another piece of media, what would it be?
HFJ: If you love experimental theatre or music that’s a bit quirky and offbeat (see what I did there?!), this show is for you. I think fans of shows that mix whimsy with depth—like Amélie or something darker like Black Mirror — will really connect with it. It has got that same blend of charm and a bit of an eerie undertone. It’s for people who like performances that make you think but also make you feel.
DI: After Offbeat, what's next for you?
HFJ: Perhaps taking the Pigeons in Transit to new places or creating something entirely fresh. The songs from the show will be part of an album I plan to release in late 2025. In addition, I have more music on the way with my indie folk project Hannah Lou Larsen. I’m working on an EP titled Peach Pine Ocean. Beyond my personal projects, I also run music workshops and collaborate with communities across Oxford, so I'll be staying busy. I love bringing people together through music—whether it's through a quirky solo show or by creating safe, inclusive spaces where others can explore their creativity. Follow my Instagram if you're interested in any of the above.
DI: Finally, please describe Pigeons in Transit in three words.
HFJ:Curious, Quirky, Pigeon
Pigeons in Transit is on at the Old Fire Station, on Fri 13th Sep, 6.30pm. For more info and to book tickets, click here.