“I’m excited to get swallowed up whole by the festival. I hope her teeth aren’t sharp and she spits me out in one piece.”
WHO: Mark Ryder
WHAT: “Toxic masculinity finally meets his match: erectile dysfunction. Felix is a finance bro with a big watch, a big ego and a little problem downstairs. His chaotic quest to “fix” himself spirals into an accidental journey into vulnerability and the scared parts of himself he’s spent a lifetime avoiding. Felix needs to heal(ix). ‘A great night out – witty, fast-paced and absurdly funny’ **** (TheSpyInTheStalls.com). ‘Not just gags and giggles… moments that drew gasps’ **** (LondonTheatre1.com).”
WHERE: Just Out Of The Box at Just The Tonic at The Caves (Venue 88)
WHEN: 13:20 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
I’ve experienced a few chilly Hogmanays in Edinburgh but this is my first time performing. And first time performing at any fringe theatre festival so I am a giant newbie. I’m excited to get swallowed up whole by the festival. I hope her teeth aren’t sharp and she spits me out in one piece.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
The director, Rute Costa, told me that the show will develop and change. And I thought, ‘No chance, this is a masterpiece. ’Tis perfect and shall remain untouched.” And here we are with a show that has changed A LOT. When it is your words that you’ve written, you want to hold on so tightly to it. But now loosening that grip has led to all the fun. The show is never fully finished. There’s always little things to experiment with and discover night to night.
Little bonus life lesson! Is try to see the stars as much as possible (not Hollywood stars, actual star stars). When you live in cities with all the pollution you forget them. And it does something to you to look up at the universe.
Tell us about your show.
It’s a one-man show about toxic masculinity. About a ridiculous finance bro who can’t get it up. It’s big, playful, silly and heartfelt. I wrote it and am performing, but this is a piece dealing with straight white men in the world, and as one of those myself, the show needed a completely different eye. And so, the wonderful Rute Costa has come in to direct and has completely elevated it.
We did a few shows last year in London to see how the show was landing. The reviews were good so now we are taking the next step with the Fringe! The instagram page from the point of view of this character @nohardfelix EXPLODED earlier this year, so it feels like people are responding to this character. The topic of toxic men has been looked at from a serious angle from Adolescene and Louis Theroux’s manosphere documentary, but there’s definitely room to come at it from the comedy side too.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
Go see Keeley Hazell: Everyone’s Seen My Tits, Bunker Two at Pleasance Courtyard 5-29 August. It’s based off her book which was mega. She was an ex-page 3 model and such a staple of early 00’s lad culture. Goes hand in hand with the No Hard Felix content but going to be amazing to hear it from her perspective.
My other recc is The Pitch, Baby Grand at Pleasance Courtyard 5-31 August. It’s about Gaelic football in Northern Ireland. This one is just gonna hit all the right notes. Laugh and cry.
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