Acclaimed storyteller Mike Birbiglia brings his latest one man show The Old Man & The Pool to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for a limited six night run, following sell out performances across the US, including a Broadway run at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center. The show opens at Underbelly’s McEwan Hall on 22 August and runs until 27 August, before embarking on a West End run at Wyndham’s Theatre from 12 September - 7 October 2023. Buy London tickets here. Edinburgh ticket link is below.
Mike Birbiglia says: "When I performed my first solo show Sleepwalk with Me Off-Broadway in 2008 a woman came up to me after the first performance and said, “You’ve written an Edinburgh show!” And I said “I’ve never been to Edinburgh but thank you! I think!” After my second show, My Girlfriend's Boyfriend even more people came up to me, and said, “You’ve written an Edinburgh show!” And I said “I’ve heard that! And I still haven’t been to Edinburgh! But I hope to someday!”
About once a month since 2008, I have had a variation on this conversation and this August I am bringing my fifth solo show The Old Man & The Pool to Edinburgh. Do you think I’m excited about it? Of course I am. I’m finally bringing my Edinburgh show to Edinburgh. The show is a series of stories and jokes that add up to a single story about life and death and mortality, and I put my heart and soul into it. So you people better show up because it’s an Edinburgh show. At least that’s what I’ve been told."
Underbelly's Head of Programming Marina Dixon said, “We’re delighted to bring Mike’s one-of-a-kind comedic musings to the Fringe this August direct from Broadway. This show is a wonderful, hilarious reflection on ageing and our modern world that will resonate with audiences young and old. We can’t wait to share it with you.”
Producers Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Patrick Catullo, and Seaview commented, “Working with Mike is a joy and we are thrilled to bring his hilarious and life-affirming comedy to the Fringe. Mike had Broadway audiences roaring with laughter nightly and we look forward to the laughter rolling on to Edinburgh.”
In this coming-of-middle-age story Mike asks the big questions: Why are we here? What’s next? What happens when the items at the doctor’s office that you thought were decorative become functional? This tale of life, death, and a highly chlorinated YMCA pool resonates with audiences ages 12 to 112, and won rave reviews whilst playing to sold-out houses in the US. Now “the best comedy of the year" (The New York Times) promises to charm Edinburgh audiences.
The Old Man & The Pool is a reminder for all of us recovering from failing bodies and a flailing world that laughter is indeed the best medicine.
Mike Birbiglia is a comedian, storyteller, director, and actor who has performed in front of audiences worldwide, from the Sydney Opera House to Carnegie Hall to Broadway. His solo shows Sleepwalk with Me, My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend, Thank God For Jokes, and The New One enjoyed successful runs on and off Broadway. My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Solo Show, and The New One received the Drama Desk Award as well as the Outer Critics Circle award for outstanding solo performance. Birbiglia is also a filmmaker who wrote, directed and starred in the films Sleepwalk with Me and Don’t Think Twice. As an actor, Birbiglia has appeared in the films Trainwreck, The Fault in Our Stars, Popstar, A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks, Taylor Swift’s music video for Anti-Hero, as well as TV roles in Orange Is the New Black and Billions. He is the host of the podcast Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out.
THE OLD MAN & THE POOL
Underbelly, Bristo Square (McEwan Hall)
19:15 (70 mins)
Dates: Aug 22-27 (£20.00 / £19.00 concession)
Genre: Comedy, Stand-Up
Age Recommendation: Recommended for ages 12+
Tickets are on sale now here.
