EdFringe Talk: Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me but Banjos Saved My Life

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“We have found that the more vulnerable we make this show, the more profound the impact is on audience members.”

WHO: Keith Alessi

WHAT: “‘Storytelling at its best!’ (Playbill.com). Sold-out runs in 2023, 2024 and 2025. This highly awarded, internationally touring, inspirational true story is about overcoming obstacles, pursuing passions and the healing power of the arts, and is told with warmth, humour and banjo music! Through donations, including 100% of all artist fees, the show has raised over $1.2 million dollars (CAD) as of December 2025 for various charities, including cancer organisations, music programmes, community groups and artist funding and development. All proceeds from this Edinburgh Fringe run will benefit Summerhall Arts.”

WHERE: TechCube 0 at Summerhall (Venue 26) 

WHEN: 11:40 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is our 5th consecutive year performing this show at Edinburgh Fringe. It is the highlight of our touring year. We donate 100% of our ticket sales to our venues to support artist development for others. We will hopefully raise our 100,000th GBP during this run, which will remain in Edinburgh. It is important to us that we take away the financial barriers so that others get to have this experience. We love to pay it forward.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

We have found that the more vulnerable we make this show, the more profound the impact is on audience members. It’s a true story and the authenticity is felt. We have learned that the more you reveal in a true and honest way, the more powerful the show is.

Tell us about your show.

The show is written and performed by Keith Alessi, directed and produced by Erika Conway. Keith first met Erika in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada where he was running a business. Years later, in 2018, this true story was presented at the Toronto Fringe Festival. Since then, it has been performed almost 500 times in 6 countries on 3 continents. Our 100th performance in Edinburgh will occur on August 11. After Edinburgh we will be touring Western Canada in the fall.

What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?

We always love David Colvin’s “Thunderstruck” and catch it every year. Fellow Canadian Melanie Gall is always doing something great, we are looking forward to seeing her new show “The Ballad of Isobel Gunn”. England’s Mason King is an outstanding mentalist and always brings a good show. He is bringing a show this year called “The Mind Spy”. And Canadian singer/ songwriter, Duane Forrest, has a Nat King Cole show “Tenderly” that we really want to see.

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