BAD TEACHER – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

Bad Teacher emerges as a brilliant testament to solo performance and feminist theatre, masterfully penned and performed by the remarkable Erin Holland. In a one-woman show that’s both uproarious and thought-provoking, Holland presents a captivating array of characters that showcase her acting prowess, rivalling the talents of celebrated performers like Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Jodie Comer.

Holland’s Evie navigates the complex duality of her life, seamlessly transitioning between characters and breathing life into each with an array of accents, tones, and rhythms. This production excels not only in laughter but also delves into poignant moments, handling themes such as suicide and emotional turmoil with a delicate touch, demonstrating Holland’s nuanced approach to storytelling. 

Bad Teacher arrives in Edinburgh with a notable history of success. After a sold-out run in 2022, the show now occupies a venue four times its size, a testament to its growing popularity. Additionally, a well-received run at the Vault Festival in 2023 further solidified its acclaim. 

As the final curtain falls, Bad Teacher leaves an indelible mark. With Holland’s performance at the helm, this production transcends the confines of a solo show, becoming a compelling testament to character-driven theatre. Its innovative narrative, fused with feminist storytelling, cement the show as a standout in this year’s Fringe Festival – a performance that will surely be remembered for years to come. 

It’s a shame that the Queen of Cups, the producing duo comprising Erin Holland and Grace O’Keefe, opted for a half-run. While we hope for a return to Edinburgh, our greater aspiration is to see this production transferred to a full run at a different venue. And with anticipation, we await new work from the Queen of Cups in the upcoming year.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

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{🎟 AD – PR invite – Tickets were gifted in exchange for an honest review}

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