Staying at the Underbelly, Cowgate, for the rest of the evening, our penultimate show of the Fringe is another comedy play (at least I think that’s what it’s going to be) – Yuri, produced by August 012 Theatre Company, at Big Belly @ Underbelly, Cowgate, at 22:10 on Saturday 27th. This is what the website says about it: “Patrick and Adele can’t have children and then Yuri appears. But who is Yuri? Why is he here? Is he dangerous? Is he Russian? Should we love him? A play about infertility, scrabble, supermarkets, sex, nationalism, the stranger in your living room and the absurdity of wanting to bring children into our deranged world. It’s also about love. Award-winning August 012 in association with Chapter Arts Centre and National Theatre Wales presents the British premiere of Fabrice Melquiot’s absurd comedy. Adapted by Daf James. Directed by Mathilde López.”

Yuri is written by Fabrice Melquiot and was first shown at the Chapter Theatre Cardiff last October, starring Carys Eleri, Guto Wynne Davies, and Ceri Murphy. I’m expecting a high degree of surrealism as a French childless couple “give birth” to a mute, grown-up Russian. As you do. Check back around half past eleven to see if it was worth the risk and by then the preview blog for our final show should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

Well that was totally barking mad bonkers, taking surrealism to a new level. Plenty of taboo subjects touched on too, including incest and paedophilia. However, I have to say, I rather liked it! The cast work their socks off to keep the story going whilst interacting with both the audience and the stage manager. A few people left during the show, which I thought was pretty harsh on the performers. Bizarrely enjoyable – the stuff Fringes are made of!