Described as a ‘marathon of the macabre’ by director and performer Stephen Smith, this performance of some of Edgar Allan Poe’s most renowned stories is captivating from start to finish. Although, I was only fortunate enough to see the abridged version of the show featuring two of the four main stories, I would relish to see the remaining stories and urge people to take a dive into the grisly, dark world of One Man Poe.
How one man can thoroughly engage an audience so that you are able to hear a pin drop is a great achievement and Smith should be so incredibly proud. The portrayal and delivery of the lines was done with such passion, clarity and perfection, that the audience felt every lurid and desperate emotion within each story.
The minimalist set and the fantastic use of the props to facilitate the complete change of character was cleverly orchestrated. Speaking with the audience members after the show, one man said ‘it rivals some west end performances he has seen’ with its delivery.
Attention to detail doesn’t stop with performance and props. The music and sound effects (Joseph Furey and Django Holder) add that bit of extra morbidity and heighten the intensity of the scenes and overall performance, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats.
This show in full is sure to be a huge success as it makes its way to the Edinburgh Fringe, to commemorate Edgar Allan Poe’s 175th anniversary of his death. This show returns to the Fringe on the back of their previous sell out run last year and also the acclaimed award they received for Best Horror Solo Show.
I for one, will be keeping my eye out for other performances by the breathtakingly awe-inspiring Stephen Smith.
Thank you for an incredibly gripping and enthralling evening.
One Man Poe is showing at Shakespeare North Theatre until Wednesday 2nd July, you can book your tickets at: https://shakespearenorthplayhouse.co.uk/event/one-man-poe/
Before opening at Manchester Fringe Festival, tickets can be booked from: https://greatermanchesterfringe.co.uk/events/one-man-poe-the-tell-tale-heart-and-the-pit-and-the-pendulum/
Reviewer: Stephanie Wiswall
Reviewed: 1st July 2025
North West End UK Rating: