The Joker and The Thief

About the event

1980. The Edinburgh Fringe. Sid and Larry haven’t spoken a word to each other since their double act imploded 5 years ago.

Since then, Larry has become an international star, arriving at the Fringe to play a sold out run. Meanwhile, Sid is scraping by on the club circuit, with an act built on stories about his former partner.

So when Larry discovers he’s become part of Sid’s routine, the two reunite backstage ahead of Larry’s opening night, under the watchful eye of his manager. As the minutes tick down to showtime, old truths resurface and the pair are finally forced to confront what really tore them apart.

Set against the raw, pre-commercial boom of the 1980s Fringe comedy scene, The Joker and The Thief explores ambition, resentment and the cost of chasing success. At a moment when stand-up comedy in Britain was still chaotic, intimate, and being invented night by night, the play examines how dreams can curdle into rivalry. Beneath the wit and comic energy lies a portrait of two performers clinging to a dream that has already consumed them.

This play is produced by and stars Dylan Kaeuper (current English Literature and History MA Hons) and Will Grice (current English Literature MA Hons).

How to attend

This event is part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It is costed, and tickets are available through the Fringe website.

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