OK, so it looks like I’m censoring myself in the title there. The truth isn’t quite as dark as that, you’ll be pleased to hear. Brian Donaldson at The List gave me a really nice write-up for The Three Stigmata of Pacman.
Over the past few Fringes, Luke Wright has earned himself a reputation as the cutting thrust of performance poetry. Now two of his fellow Aisle 16 buddies are getting their taste of an Edinburgh ‘summer’. While Tim Clare takes us on a Death Drive at Zoo Roxy, the Underbelly is hosting this excellent debut from Edinburgh-born, Essex-raised Ross Sutherland. The Three Stigmata of Pacman (discussing the title will give away too much) is described by its creator as ‘live literature, or whatever this is’, and features plenty of projected imagery, slabs of music and swabs of poetry.
Sutherland’s story takes us from his happy life working as a music reviewer for Metro, amusingly sharing office space with the Daily Mail, to redundancy and the spectre of having to move back to the family home. The disintegration of his self is played out on a backdrop of fairy tale and Greek mythology with Sutherland showing a forensic Stewart Lee-esque disdain for life’s stupidities. A moving and compelling show which might have you swiftly returning for seconds.
Underbelly, 08445 458 252, until 29 Aug (not 16), 4.40pm, £9–£10.50 (£6.50–£9.50)
On top of that, Three Weeks magazine put me in their “Three-To-See” list in the Comedy section. I’m really really pleased with all this. I think its time to go climb Arthurs Seat and have a little dance on the top.
I’ve been a bit quiet online considering this is my first week doing a solo show at the Edinburgh Fringe. The reason is that I’ve been finishing the manuscript for my second book, Twelve Nudes, which comes out with Penned in the Margins in September. I just finished the thing about 20 minutes ago (YESSSSSSSS) so I’m officially coming back into orbit now.
My recommendations for Edinburgh so far: Clockwork Orange at the Radisson Hotel, Full Scottish Breakfasts from City Cafe, and the middle-aged American man who tried to buy weed off me in the Forest Fringe canteen. X