Sweet success for Alice Roberts (2022) as ‘Custard Tarts’ heads to London
Since its debut, ‘Custard Tarts’ has quickly become a standout new piece of writing, earning both enthusiastic audiences and award recognition. Written by recent graduate Alice Roberts (2022) - professionally known as Alice Harris-Deans - the play blends queer history, camp spectacle and sharp humour into something both riotous and quietly profound.
We spoke to Alice about the show’s success, its origins in a College kitchen and what comes next as ‘Custard Tarts’ heads to London this summer.
‘Custard Tarts’ has been such a success - how has it felt watching something you wrote resonate so strongly with audiences?
Thank you! I’ve honestly been surprised by the scale of the response - it’s always daunting putting new work out, so it’s been incredible to see it met with such kindness. Because the play is about finding community in unexpected places, it feels delightfully meta that audiences have warmed so much to it. I couldn’t be happier with our first run, and I’m hugely grateful to everyone who came along in Brighton.
For those who haven’t seen it yet, how would you describe the play and its themes?
‘Custard Tarts’ follows Nancy, a young woman who, in search of queer community, summons four women from across the twentieth century to her kitchen table. What unfolds is a chaotic mix of passive aggression, drag numbers, and custard fights. Beneath the camp spectacle, it explores queer identity, costuming, and community - ultimately arguing that true community comes not from erasing difference but celebrating authenticity.
The production has already had an impressive run and award recognition. Was there a particular moment when you realised it was really connecting with audiences?
The first show was a complete blur - I was all adrenaline! It was during the second that I started to feel audiences really connecting. I’m very protective of the characters and the fantastic actors who play them, so sensing that warmth was thrilling. There’s a tense moment towards the end of Act Two where the audience went completely still, and then immediately burst into shrieks and laughter in the following scene - I knew then we were really connecting.
What first sparked the idea for ‘Custard Tarts’, and how did it evolve from an initial concept into a fully staged production?
I first had the idea in my second-year kitchen (in M Staircase) while chatting with my lovely friend Lily. We were talking about the abundance of plays about gay men, particularly shaped by the AIDS crisis and 20th-century history and the comparative lack of stories about 20th-century lesbians. That led me to start writing short scenes set in different decades, originally as a scene cycle.
When I came back to it later, I realised (perhaps obviously) that it needed a through-plot - feel free to debate me on that! So, I shaped those scenes into Act One, added a protagonist (and a lot of custard), and the rest of the play grew from there.
You graduated only a year ago. Did you imagine your career would progress this quickly, or have there been any unexpected twists along the way?
I think career might be a strong term, unless of course we’re referring to my zero hours hospitality contract! I would say I’m firmly in the twist right now and there still feels a long way to go before I could claim to have a career in the creative arts. I am, however, having a really exhilarating, fun and fulfilling time while working on the show and, at least for now, I’m more than happy with that.
How did your time at College help shape your development as a writer and performer?
Oh, my time at College was wonderful! I’m not far from it at all, but I look back so fondly on both the English Tripos and DDS - they’ve both been hugely important to my post-grad development. The degree, as well as being really hard, shaped my work ethic, and I still find myself thinking, “come on babe, you used to write two essays a week, you can finish this draft.” Its breadth also left me with a useful range of literary reference points. My final dissertation was a direct inspiration for the show. I wrote on lesbian camp and contemporary plays (one being ‘5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche’, which DDS performed in the Heong Gallery in 2024), which informed the development of ‘Custard Tarts’ in both conscious and subconscious ways, I’m sure.
And I had the best time with DDS. We were able to experiment with so many different shows, and 5 Lesbians and the Festival of New Writing were real highlights. The festival was invaluable as a writer - we could showcase work, talk to audiences and get professional feedback. I feel lucky to have had that opportunity and I owe a huge amount to the brilliant DDS committees and the even more brilliant Steve Bennett, Director of Drama.
What have been some of the biggest challenges in establishing yourself in the theatre industry since graduating?
The challenges are alive and kicking! I don’t feel established yet, but this year has hopefully set me in the right direction and given me much more confidence. The challenge is that there’s no clear route into theatre - no linear milestones like in other industries. That can be disorienting, but it’s also exciting. Despite the challenges, the rewards make it completely worth it.
What advice would you give to current students or recent graduates hoping to build a career in the arts?
This is a topic I could go on about for hours, but I think it boils down to being patient. Cambridge can feel very fast-paced, but since graduating I’ve learned the value of slowing down. There’s no single path into the industry, just persistence, a real love for it, and the understanding that it might take time to make a living. In the meantime, though, you get all the joy of creative freedom and experimentation.
Also, surround yourself with kind, inspiring, creative people. At the start, it really is all for the love of it, so who you work with matters enormously. Nearly everyone on team ‘Custard Tarts’ is someone I met at Cambridge, so make the most of the fabulous theatre scene there while you can. And have faith! It’ll all come good in the end.
What’s next for you? Are there any upcoming projects or ideas you’re particularly excited about?
Very excitingly, we’re taking ‘Custard Tarts’ to Riverside Studios in London this August (20th - 23rd). While I am admittedly very stressed about how many seats we suddenly have to fill, we’re absolutely thrilled to be performing in this theatre and really looking forward to sharing the show with new audiences. And then the sky’s the limit! There are definitely some other London theatres I would love to get the show on at, but they’re currently pipe dreams. Our terrific director, Emma, and I are working on some new ideas too and then I’m off to drama school to start an MA in acting in September. It’s been a wonderful year, for which I am enormously grateful and I’m genuinely a bit giddy about it all.
‘Custard Tarts’ by Alice Harris-Deans will play in Studio 3 @ Riverside Studios, Hammersmith from the 20 - 23 August 2026. Tickets available now.
Published 10 June 2026