Humans Of Lambeth (part V)

Our Humans Of Lambeth series celebrates the individuals behind the Lambeth Fringe Festival. In the fifth and final part of our 2025 series we meet playwright Chin Lewis to discuss the importance of fringe theatre, career changes and being a proud South London 90's baby...

“I’ve been in finance for the past 11 years but this year I decided, no - I have to take my creativity seriously again. I joined the Bread & Roses writers’ group and at first I was just reading other people’s work, but then I thought, let me see what they say about my own stuff. I shared this script I’d been writing in the background, and they gave me such good feedback that it gave me the confidence to enter Lambeth Fringe.”

“I’m born and raised in Croydon and Brixton’s been my stomping ground since I was a teenager. Socially, culturally, all my people are here. I’ve been in Brixton and I’ve seen it change, not only socially but also culturally. All my people are here, I just love Lambeth for the richness of culture. I feel really embedded here, like properly rooted. I even wrote in my programme that I’m a ‘proud South London 90's baby.’ That’s me – 90s street rat kid. I love the fact that Lambeth Fringe takes you into spaces I hadn’t even been to before, like Golden Goose. It just reminds you how much talent and energy is right here in South London. I’m proud of that.”

“The play’s about two homeless men on a London street. One of them wakes up on his mum’s birthday - she passed away three years ago - and he’s just full of emotion. From the outside, people just see someone drinking in the morning and think it’s a problem, but actually it’s someone grieving. I grew up seeing more and more homeless people in Croydon and I’ve always wondered about their journeys, not judged them. We’re all one paycheck away from that situation. So I wanted to humanise them, not demonise them. Show that they go through the same things as us - loss, pain, trying to get through the day – but without the safety of a home.”

“What I love about fringe theatre is that it gives the artist full reign. I submitted this play somewhere else and got shortlisted, but they wouldn’t have let me direct or choose my own actors. Here, I got to do everything – write it, direct it, cast it. I wanted to learn how to put a whole show on from scratch, and Lambeth Fringe gave me that chance. It’s not about being fancy or commercial. It’s about telling your story your way. I’ve seen so much talent just in Lambeth Fringe alone. It’s made me feel like, yeah, this is my tribe. I’m exactly where I need to be.”

“For me, this show isn’t just about me. I’ve already pledged 10% of the ticket sales to St Mungo’s and Brixton Soup Kitchen because they’re really out here doing the work. Of course, making a bit of money would be nice, but that’s not why I wrote this. The whole point is about humanity – that’s why the play’s called Spare Some Humanity, Please. I want people to look at someone on the street and not just see ‘a problem.’ I want them to see a person. Doing this through fringe, with the freedom to make it mine, and with my community around me – that’s what makes it powerful. I’ve found something that really feels like me.”

Humans Of Lambeth is put together by Beatrice Updegraff for Mobius Industries - thank you to all who have made Lambeth Fringe Festival 2025 so special... The countdown begins for 2026!