Review: Linus Karp was hit with an Umbrella | Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026
- Lisa in the theatre
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Awkward Productions return to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with the shocking true story of a homophobic attack on writer/performer Linus Karp. Linus Karp was hit with an Umbrella plays at Underbelly Bristo Square through August 2026. Read my review here.
Linus Karp was hit with an Umbrella ★★★★★
Review: 11 August 2026 | Edinburgh Fringe, Underbelly Bristo Square
This is easily Awkward Prods best show yet. Performed solo by Linus, with husband Joseph never far away. Linus Karp was hit with an Umbrella tells the true story of a shocking homophobic attack blended with uproariously entertaining camp comedy.
Just before the Edinburgh Fringe of 2024, queer Swedish performer Linus Karp (Princess Diana, Gwyneth Paltrow) was attacked on the streets of his home city of London. In SOHO of all places. The area that's the traditional heart of London's queer community.
Linus didn't know his attacker, and he wasn't doing anything to provoke him. Nevertheless, the guy came out of nowhere, shouted that he wanted to kill him, and proceeded to assault him physically.
One-man theatre show Linus Karp was hit with an Umbrella retells the events from that night using the actual 999 recordings coupled with Linus' heartbreaking personal commentary. Beautifully crafted, and handled with a delicate, absolute professionalism, Linus never loses sight of the fact that this comedy drama is also a piece of entertainment at the world's largest Arts festival - the Edinburgh Fringe.
It's a stunning piece of well-balanced theatre from Linus, Joseph and their team. Raw and poignant but out-and-out hilarious. Not everyone could pull this off. But Awkward Prods do, with style.
Surprisingly, this is the show in which Linus has generously chosen to share more about his upbringing, his family and his and Joseph's relationship than he has before. But it works to give us a deeper understanding of Linus as a person, not just as a performer. And if you don't leave this show more than a little bit in love with Joseph Martin after all of his heroics, then you must be made of stone.
This latest offering from the unstoppable Awkward Productions is just as camp as their previous theatre works, but it's way less chaotic. The audience participation works so well here, and as always, Linus's crowd work is exquisite. He knows exactly when to push it and when to leave well alone. He is always sharp but never cruel.
The attention to detail in the production is mind-blowing. This smart tale centres on an inanimate object, the umbrella. Meant to protect, it was instead used against Linus as a weapon. The way he creatively uses it as a prop, before and after his show, is brilliant.
With a glorious mix of comedy, tragedy, and a whole heap of showmanship, Linus Karp has taken a horrific attack - which scarred him physically and mentally, and had a huge lasting impact on his life - and turned it on its head. This should be a massive commercial success for Awkward Prods.
I laughed, I cried, I cheered.
This is the hardest-hitting show at Edinburgh Fringe this year. Literally. ★★★★★
Side note: The pre-show playlist is superb! "Hit me with your best shot" could not be more appropriate, and "Your Disco Needs You" is the anthem to arouse even the sleepiest of Fringe-goers and prepare them for the glorious campness to come.
Linus Karp was hit with an umbrella is at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, at Underbelly Bristo Square (Friesian) until Sunday 30 August 2026.
Awkward Prods will also be performing their cult hit Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story during the final week of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe at Underbelly, Bristo Square (Ermintrude), from 24th - 30th August.
Find all my Edinburgh Fringe coverage here: https://www.lisainthetheatre.com/edinburgh-fringe
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