The Oxford Belles, Oxford’s OG female and non-binary a capella group, are returning to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with their new show Saved by the Belles: a powerful, pop-filled performance of songs written or made famous by female and non-binary artists. As they approach their tenth tenure at the festival, we chatted with the Belles about all things a capella, Pitch Perfect, and… a sheep named after Britney Spears?
Hi The Oxford Belles! You’ll be returning to the Fringe this year with the show Saved by the Belles, described as your “most riotous show yet”. Are you feeling ready to riot in Edinburgh?
Yes, of course! This will be our 35th anniversary and the 10th time at the Fringe, so we’ve been working hard over the summer to prepare for our run. We’ve got some new arrangements lined up, as well as some throwbacks to our early pioneering days. We can’t wait to bring the riot to Edinburgh and show everyone what we’ve got in store!
The Oxford Belles were set up in 1995 to combat Oxford’s “male-dominated music scene”. What is the gender balance like in the a capella scene more broadly, and has this changed since the group’s origin?
Historically, the a cappella scene has been quite male-dominated, reflecting broader societal trends in music and extracurricular participation. Our group was established as a response to this imbalance, aiming to encourage more female involvement and visibility in the local music scene at Oxford. Overall, the gender balance in a cappella has improved, with many ongoing efforts to promote diversity and inclusivity.
For most of the public, their main understanding of a capella is via the Pitch Perfect trilogy, which plays up the supposed rivalry between male and female a capella groups. To what extent is this a realistic portrayal of the culture?
While we do love a little bit of rivalry, in reality, the scene is much more friendly and collaborative. At Oxford, all of the groups strive to encourage and push each other to perform better, but it’s all in good spirits. In fact, we’ve recently pioneered the first Pitch Perfect-inspired Riff Off, which was very well received and showed how playful and creative our community can be! (P.S: our friends Out of the Blue and The Oxford Commas will be performing at the Fringe as well!)
A capella has, of course, historically been very gendered — recently, groups have moved away from binary labels and adopted a more inclusive stance on gender and vocals. You describe yourselves as an “all-female and non-binary” group — how important is it to you to reflect the changing language and culture of a capella?
We believe in creating a space that is inclusive and welcoming to everyone, regardless of gender identity. As an all-female and non-binary group, we want our members to feel comfortable, confident, and free to be themselves. Embracing inclusivity not only enriches our group dynamics but also aligns with our broader values of acceptance and respect. We see this as part of the positive shift within the a cappella community towards more diverse and supportive environments, and we’re incredibly proud to be part of that movement.
Saved by the Belles promises plenty of empowering pop tunes, including songs from Chappell Roan and Lady Gaga. What musical or lyrical themes can audiences expect from the show?
All of our songs are either written or made famous by female or non-binary artists, and we see this as a celebration of their incredible musical artistry. The themes across our setlist are centered around empowerment, self-expression, and resilience. Audiences can expect energetic and uplifting performances that highlight stories of strength, independence, and authenticity. Ultimately, Saved by the Belles is about celebrating voices that inspire us and encouraging everyone to embrace their true selves.
The “Meet the Belles” page of your website features the small, woolly-looking “Baa-ritney Shears” — please tell us more about Baa-ritney and her story.
Baa-ritney Shears joined our group in 2023; we came across her on our last Edinburgh Fringe run, and her melodious bleats were just too hard to resist! Since then, she has become a beloved part of our ensemble, bringing her unique charm and personality to every one of our performances.
Saved by the Belles is running 18-23 August at Upper Theatre at theSpace @ Niddry Street
Buy tickets here.
Image courtesy of The Oxford Belles, provided to The Student as press