“I love Edinburgh because it rewards obsession.”
WHO: Stephen Smith
WHAT: “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.”
WHERE: Willow Studio at Greenside @ Riddles Court (Venue 16)
WHEN: On Demand (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
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’.
LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!
INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!
Get Your Coats On 