Edinburgh Fringe history made as Awkward Productions' Linus and Joseph marry on stage
- Lisa in the theatre
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
History has been made at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as Awkward Productions, otherwise known as theatre-makers Linus Karp and Joseph Martin, legally tied the knot in front of a sold-out audience at The Pleasance Grand theatre (750 seat venue).
Awkward Productions wedding: Linus Karp and Joseph Martin say "I do!"
On Saturday 16 August, the couple - best known for cult hits Gwyneth Goes Skiing and Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story (and currently starring in a new production at the fringe, The Fit Prince) - became the first pair to marry on stage with a ticketed audience in the Fringe’s 78-year history, and the first LGBTQ+ couple to wed as part of the official festival programme.
Awkward Productions Get Married (but for real)
The couple kicked off the show with individual themed entrances; Joseph channelled brat entering the room to Von Dutch by Charli XCX while flanked by "security" and backed by indoor fireworks. Not to be upstaged, Linus was then carried onto the stage by three helpers wearing short shorts to the tune of "Jellicle Cats" from Andrew Lloyd-Webber's Cats.
Both grooms were styled by Edinburgh-based designer Cosimo Damiano Angiulli (SIMO THE LABEL) and the official, legal ceremony was conducted by Edinburgh City Council’s Jackie Blackburn.
With an audience of 750 friends, family-members and strangers looking on, Linus and Joseph's wedding was one to remember. The wedding ceremony was a spectacular, funny, camp Awkward Productions show but also a serious, heartfelt and official event.
An historic, Edinburgh Festival Fringe wedding
The morning began with comedian Sooz Kempner serenading the couple with her version of The Spice Girls, 2 Become 1. There followed a dramatic reading of Miley Cyrus's Party in the USA by the Best Man, and then speeches from the couple's straight but lesbian-looking best friends and even their parents!
The rings were delivered via a spoof Lord of the Rings routine by fellow Edinburgh Fringe troupe Recent Cutbacks, before the crowd erupted for a momentous standing ovation as Jackie pronounced the couple “husband and husband.”
After the “I do’s", the newlyweds invited everyone to join them for celebratory drinks before later that afternoon performing their latest Fringe hit The Fit Prince (who gets switched on the square in the frosty castle the night before (insert public holiday here.))
Scroll down for more professional photos from the ceremony. You will find my own (non professional! photos) from Awkwards Productions historic wedding on my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisa_inthetheatre/
Awkward Productions: Linus Karp and Joseph Martin Wedding photos by Anna Clare Photography
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