In July 2024, Linus Karp was attacked and struck across the head with an umbrella by a stranger whilst walking through Soho holding hands with his then-boyfriend (now husband) and creative collaborator Joseph Martin. The man went on to scream a stream of vicious homophobic abuse at the couple until police arrived and he was arrested.

Whilst the incident itself was covered extensively as a news story at the time, with some soundbite quotes, Linus never properly talked about it in depth with the press. You can read Linus Karp’s interview with QX , where he talks about the attack and the show here.

Built around the real incident, Linus Karp Was Hit With An Umbrella explores the aftermath of public homophobia.

After the attack, Linus felt nervous about holding his partner’s hand in public and being openly himself, and he struggled with the feeling that a freedom had been taken away from him. The show explores how incidents like this can continue to affect queer people long after the headlines have gone, as Linus covers the police investigation and trial process, and how he gradually rebuilt the confidence to be openly affectionate with Joseph in public again.

Just over a year following the attack, Linus and Joseph made headlines for becoming the first couple to legally marry on stage as part of the Edinburgh Fringe official programme – a joyful and very public celebration of their relationship that, in retrospect, also feels deeply intertwined with this new work.

After taking time to emotionally process the attack, Linus and Joseph are now transforming the traumatic experience into a live performance. They have created a show that requires Linus to relive the incident night after night in front of audiences as he explores how an experience like this can fundamentally change the way someone moves through the world, expresses affection and feels safe being openly themselves.

Despite the subject matter, the show itself is also very funny. Created by Awkward Prods (the company behind Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story and Gwyneth Goes Skiing), it carries their signature style. A style that is witty, theatrical, absurdist and audience-interactive, with dark humour woven throughout.