“I love Edinburgh because it rewards obsession.”
WHO: Stephen Smith
WHAT: “One Man Poe: The Black Cat and The Raven – Immerse yourselves in two timeless Edgar Allan Poe classics. Arguably Poe’s darkest tale, The Black Cat depicts an alcoholic’s last confession on the eve of his death. Then, the poem that made Poe famous: The Raven. In the midnight hour, an elderly man laments the loss of his love, when an ominous visitor is heard tapping on his chamber door. One Man Poe returns after sell-out runs in 2024 and 2025, bringing Poe’s words to life as never before. Voted Best Overall Show at Edinburgh Fringe 2025 by the Derek Awards.”
AND: “One Man Poe: The Business Man and The Case of M. Valdemar – Discover two lesser-known stories from Edgar Allan Poe. First, in Poe’s dark and comedic political satire on American capitalism, the dubious, “self-made” businessman Peter Proffit wants your vote as President of the United States. Then, a gruesome account of an experiment gone wrong, when a renowned mesmerist hypnotises his willing patient at the very moment of his death. Brand new for the 2026 Fringe, One Man Poe adds this more obscure, yet distinctly unsettling, double bill to its critically acclaimed repertoire of the finest examples of gothic literature.”
AND: “One Man Poe: The Tell-Tale Heart and The Pit and the Pendulum – Using the original Edgar Allan Poe publications from 1840s, award-winning storyteller Stephen Smith faithfully brings to life the most terrifying tales, from the pioneering Godfather of Gothic Horror. In The Tell-Tale Heart, we meet a madman convincing us of his sanity, whilst explaining a murder he’s committed, with meticulous detail. Then, in The Pit and the Pendulum, we join a prisoner attempting to escape the various torture devices of the dreaded Spanish Inquisition. ‘Could not have been more wow-ed by this ‘marathon of the macabre” ***** (National).”
WHERE: Willow Studio at Greenside @ Riddles Court (Venue 16)
WHEN: Varies (60 min)
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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
Not even close! This will be my third consecutive year at the Fringe with One Man Poe, and my biggest undertaking yet. I love Edinburgh because it rewards obsession. Where else can you perform nearly 19,000 words of Edgar Allan Poe from memory and find an audience willing to come with you? As a punter, it’s paradise – I like to say it’s “like Disneyland for actors”. As a producer, it’s exhausting – I like to say it’s “the Olympics of Theatre”, and I always go for gold!
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
There are so many ways to market your show, but I’ve learned word-of-mouth is your biggest friend at the fringe. I also think that, when flyering on the mile, the more ways you can really signpost exactly what you’re offering (eg. wearing my spooky, gothic horror-inspired costume), the easier it is for the right audience members to find you. I’ve also learned that sleep and recovery is very important – this year, more than ever!
Tell us about your show.
The words belong entirely to Edgar Allan Poe. My job is simply to resurrect them. One Man Poe began life in 2021 after I spent lockdown creating digital adaptations of Poe’s stories. The show is produced by my company, Threedumb Theatre, which I co-founded while studying Acting at LIPA. This year I’m adding two brand-new Poe stories to the repertoire, ‘The Business Man’ and ‘The Case of M. Valdemar’, following preview performances around England before bringing all six stories to Edinburgh for 42 performances in 23 days.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
No Poe show is ever the same, so I have no issue in giving a shout-out to Box Tales Soup’s new puppetry-infused retelling of several of Poe’s stories, called ‘A Ghost Among the Living’ – I, for one, can’t wait to see it and show my support. Black Bright Theatre is another company to keep your eyes on, as they have a brand new horror show called ‘The Hunger’, Blue Fire Theatre are sharing the gorgeous Willow Studio with me with their show ‘Bloody Mary(s)’. Michael Hughes does a terrific job at shining light a little-known part of First Wold War history in ‘The Last Bantam’. And finally, if you’re looking for a fun musical, Grace O’Keefe never disappoints, and I can’t wait to see her new show ‘An A to Z Guide to Dating’.
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