From I, Joan to the Edinburgh Fringe: Isobel Thom’s bold theatre journey
Isobel Thom, a non-binary actor trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, brings a powerful presence to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with their role as Kelly in Cara and Kelly are Best Friends Forever For Life. Having graduated in 2022, Thom has already made waves in theatre, most notably for their award-winning lead performance in I, Joan at Shakespeare’s Globe, described by The Guardian as a “visceral, courageous” and “staggering professional debut.”
Thom’s diverse theatre repertoire spans from classical roles in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Globe to cutting-edge new work with companies like Paines Plough and The Richard Burton Company, showcasing their versatility and fearless approach to storytelling. Their screen credits, including Netflix’s Too Much and Channel 4’s Big Mood, further underline their broad artistic range.
In Cara and Kelly, Thom tackles the difficult terrain of friendship, complicity, and the subtle but persistent racism experienced in everyday life. The play, written by Mojola Akinyemi, explores the fine line between loyalty and silence, forcing audiences — especially white viewers — to confront uncomfortable truths about racial prejudice and their own roles within it.
Thom’s portrayal of Kelly is a key part of this unsettling and vital conversation. Their nuanced performance navigates the complexities of adolescence, the pressures of fitting in, and the painful realisations about personal responsibility. As a non-binary actor, Thom also brings a vital perspective to a story about identity and belonging in modern Britain.
Joining forces with Scarlett Stitt and the boundary-pushing company Tigers, Not Daughters, Isobel Thom stands at the forefront of a new generation of theatre makers who refuse to shy away from difficult questions. Their work is a testament to the power of art to provoke, challenge, and ultimately inspire change.
As Cara and Kelly are Best Friends Forever For Life plays at the Pleasance Courtyard, audiences are invited to experience Thom’s fearless artistry and to engage in the hard but necessary conversations their performance ignites.
Cara and Kelly are Best Friends Forever For Life is on at 15:20 at Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker 3), from Wednesday 30th July to Monday 25th August 2025 (not 18th). Book tickets at- https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/cara-and-kelly-are-best-friends-forever-life
Follow: @tigersnotdaughters #CaraandKellyareBFFs4L