The Edinburgh Festival Fringe sensation Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen transfers to the Bush for its first London run from 10 November – 23 December 2023. The show won The Stage Edinburgh Award and a Scotsman Fringe First Award.
“I’m 36, I’m a comedian, and I’m about to kill my boyfriend…”
After years of swiping, a permanently single, professionally neurotic stand-up finally meets Mr Right – and then does everything wrong.
Strap in for a delightfully dark journey through self-awareness and self-sabotage as he decides whether love is worth the price of a killer punchline.
Described as ‘razor sharp’ by The Scotsman, Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen is the hit play from the producers of the Olivier award-winning Baby Reindeer and the international smash-hit Fleabag.
Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen receives 5-star reviews.
‘Faultless execution is matched only by this audience’s thunderous, cathartic, cry-laughing response.’ – FEST.
‘A masterclass in comic delivery’ – WhatsOnStage.
‘razor sharp’ – Scotsman.
‘Frank, funny and occasionally filthy… following in the footsteps of Fleabag’ – The Independent.
Starring the double Tony Award-winning and Olivier Award nominee Samuel Barnett.
Samuel Barnett’s first Tony nomination was for the original production of Alan Bennett’s acclaimed History Boys, for which he also won the Drama Desk Award and was nominated for an Olivier Award. Samuel received his second Tony nomination in 2014 for his portrayal of Viola in Twelfth Night on Broadway, directed by Tim Carroll. Recently, in 2022, he starred opposite Ralph Fiennes in Straight Line Crazy at the Bridge Theatre. He also played Cecil Beaton in the feature film Lee, opposite Kate Winslet, which is due for release this December. Sam will also star in the upcoming comedy film And Mrs alongside Harriet Walter and Aisling Bea. Further screen credits include Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, The Lady in the Van, Jupiter Ascending, The Amazing Mr Blunden (Sky), Penny Dreadful (Showtime), Twenty Twelve (BBC) and Beautiful People (BBC).
Written by Marcelo Dos Santos
Marcelo Dos Santos, an award-winning Latinx British-Brazilian-Australian writer, is the writer. In 2022, Marcelo won a Scotsman Fringe First award for Excellence in New Writing for this monologue.
Marcelo has been a writer on attachment at the National Theatre, the Bush Theatre, the HighTide Festival Theatre, and the Royal Court Theatre and was also a member of the BBC Drama Room. He is also developing television projects with several companies. In 2014, he adapted the critically acclaimed best-selling Zizou Corder novel Lionboy, which garnered rave reviews from The Guardian, Mail on Sunday, The Times, Evening Standard and FT. The Broadway show Critics Choice in the New York Times.
Marcelo’s West End debut was recently marked by Backstairs Billy (which looks at a pivotal moment in the 50-year relationship between the Queen Mother and her loyal gay servant William “Billy” Tallon, AKA Backstairs Billy). It starred Luke Evans and Penelope Wilton in the lead roles. The show is due to return to the West End shortly. Marcelo has an extensive catalogue of theatre work behind him.
Directed by Matthew Xia
The show’s director is Matthew Xia who is also the award-winning Artistic Director of the Actors Touring Company. He was previously Associate Artistic Director at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester; Director-in-Residence at The Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse; and Associate Director at Theatre Royal Stratford East. Matthew has directed some of the UK’s most talented actors in numerous productions.
A founding member of Act for Change, Mathew was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in 2019 from the University of the Arts London for his efforts to make theatre universally accessible by working to promote minority groups as theatre leaders, makers and consumers.
Online Tickets: https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/event/feeling-afraid-as-if-something-terrible-is-going-to-happen/
Priced from £25 (concessions available), with £15 ‘Count Me In’ seats available at every performance.
Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen runs from 10 November to 23 December at Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Rd, London W12 8LJ, United Kingdom.
