This time last year, gentle reader, we discovered the pure joy of the Edinburgh Fringe. I have no idea why it took us so long to discover it. It was a long weekender – 20 shows in 70 hours – and we nearly saw them all. It was absolutely brilliant and now we’re hooked. To prove it, this year we’re back for a full week.

With so many shows to write about, it’s an impossible task to write a full blog post about each one. It just ain’t gonna happen. So I propose to do the same as last year – prepare in advance a preview-type blog for each show, with what I’m hoping and/or expecting from each show, and then add my instant reactions in the few minutes I have afterwards, between shows. It’s a big task, but I’m going to try my hardest! Each blog will be up about an hour or two before each show, so please keep checking back to see what we’re up to.

So our first show is Belfast Boy, at the Spotlites Main Theatre, at 18:10 on Saturday 15th. Here’s the official promotional blurb: “Martin Hall is having trouble sleeping. Since fleeing from Belfast, his brothers have fallen in and out with the law, his mother has had her heart broken, and he’s struggled with his sexuality. Now he must relive it with a psychologist over one unforgettable hour. Purple Penguin Productions return with their sell-out show to the Edinburgh Fringe from their acclaimed tour of Northern Ireland, London and Finland. Critically acclaimed and winner of both the FringeReview.co.uk Award for Outstanding Theatre, and the Stage Award For Acting Excellence, Belfast Boy is a powerful piece of storytelling based on true events.”

Sounds pretty good. It’s a one-man show, performed last year by Declan Perring, whose photo you see here, but I understand this year it is performed by Greg Fossard. It received loads of five star ratings in 2014 so I’ve got high expectations! I’m expecting a well-written, thoughtful and insightful piece, and I’m hoping for a lively and engaging performance. With any luck this will be one of those shows you come out of as a different person from the one you went in as, if you follow my clumsy grammar. Check back after 7.30pm to see how it went, and by then the next preview blog should be available to read too.

And if you’re up in Edinburgh, have a brilliant Fringe!

Very hard hitting and beautiful piece of writing, and a very sad story of a young man’s life struggling with all sorts of abuse. Very well performed, but there was something about it that didn’t *quite* move me. But It was extremely good, no doubt about that!