Just a few days remain to see One Man Poe, and experience some of the most thrilling, chilling and highly praised theatre at the 2026 Fringe.
Three shows, each presenting two Edgar Allen Poe short stories, are being performed by Stephen Smith who Wee Review says: “uses this strange ancient language in such a way that only great Shakespearean actors can do.” (★★★★).
New pictures have just been released for one of them, The Business Man and The Case of M. Valdemar, which fully demonstrate Poe’s variety and Smith’s versatility.
The Businessman is a dark tale of greed, profiteering, political ambition and wickedness all wrapped up in the Stars and Stripes. The evil here is human inhumanity.
By contrast The Case of M. Valdemar plunges us into the deepest realms of supernatural horror with what Broadway Baby calls “a terrifying tale of necromancy.” (★★★★).
The ★★★★★ review from West End Best Friend says: “Stephen Smith in One Man Poe is a must-see at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – his performance is nothing short of outstanding”. Edinburgh Reviews adds “My eyes were glued to this intensely passionate performance from beginning to end.” Edinburgh Reviews (★★★★.5)
All the shows are performed in the atmospheric surroundings of Greenside’s 16th-century Riddles Court complex, a place Poe might have seen when he visited Edinburgh as a child in the early 19th century.
Described by the author’s descendants as a “tour-de-force”, One Man Poe offers horror fans and classical literature lovers an atmospheric experience rich with imaginative storytelling.
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Production information
- Written by Edgar Allan Poe
- Directed and performed by Stephen Smith
- Music by Joseph Furey / Sound Design by Joseph Furey and Django Holder
- Supported by Watford Palace Theatre and The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA)
- Produced by Threedumb Theatre (www.threedumbtheatre.com / @3dumbtheatre)
Listings details
One Man Poe: The Black Cat and The Raven
- Venue: Greenside Venue @ Riddles Court (Willow Studio) – Venue 16 – 322 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2PG
- Start times vary: 12:45 and 18:35
- Dates for 12:45 starts: Aug 7 (preview), 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27
- Dates for 18:35 starts: Aug 9, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29
- Duration: 55 mins
- Prices: Concession £15/£16, full price £16/£17, preview £12.50
- Advisory: Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes
- Age: 12+
- Tickets: www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/one-man-poe-the-black-cat-and-the-raven
One Man Poe: The Tell-Tale Heart and The Pit and the Pendulum
- Venue: Greenside Venue @ Riddles Court (Willow Studio) – Venue 16 – 322 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2PG
- Start times vary: 12:45 and 18:35
- Dates for 12:45 starts: Aug 9, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29
- Dates for 18:35 starts: Aug 8 (preview), 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28
- Duration: 60 mins
- Prices: Concession £15/£16, full price £16/£17, preview £12.50
- Advisory: Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes
- Age: 12+
- Tickets: www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/one-man-poe-the-tell-tale-heart-and-the-pit-and-the-pendulum
One Man Poe: The Business Man and The Case of M. Valdemar
- Venue: Greenside Venue @ Riddles Court (Willow Studio) – Venue 16 – 322 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2PG
- Start times vary: 12:45 and 18:35
- Dates for 12:45 starts: Aug 8 (preview), 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28
- Dates for 18:35 starts: Aug 7 (preview), 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27
- Duration: 55 mins
- Prices: Concession £15/£16, full price £16/17, preview £10
- Advisory: Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes
- Age: 16+
- Tickets: www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/one-man-poe-the-business-man-and-the-case-of-m-valdemar
About Stephen Smith and One Man Poe
A huge fan of the late Roger Corman / Vincent Price’s Poe-cycle when a child, Smith reignited his love of classical horror stories during the pandemic by creating online renditions of Poe’s work via Facebook Live. When the theatres reopened, he combined four of Poe’s most popular pieces in a solo show and named the extravaganza One Man Poe.
First performed in 2021 at Watford Palace Theatre, One Man Poe has had multiple runs in London on tour in the UK. Poe is sometimes referred to as “America’s Shakespeare”, and Stephen is thrilled to share the stories to UK theatre audiences. However, the show has toured internationally; to Dubai, Malaysia, on Off-Broadway in New York, and the International Poe Festival in Baltimore MD. Stephen has had the pleasure of performing the show at the Poe Museum in Richmond VA, Poe’s cottage in the Bronx, and even a special VIP catacomb performance at Poe’s burial site in Baltimore!
- Interviews available – just get in touch.
- Media pack with photos and videos: www.tinyurl.com/onemanpoe
Social media: Facebook Instagram Twitter TikTok
Media contact: Matthew Shelley, SFPR, 07786 704299 Matthew@Scottishfestivalspr.org
