Scotland

The Man Who Thought He Knew Too Much – Pleasance Courtyard

Voloz Collective have two propositions at this year’s Fringe and having already seen their newer REDACTED: The Cover-Up of a Cover-Up of a Cover-Up, I found myself watching The Man Who Thought He Knew Too Much rather unusually, seeing the company’s evolution backwards.

Set in 1963, it follows Roger Clement, played by Paul Lofferon, a French advertising executive in New York who’s meticulously ordered existence is disrupted when being late for work saves him from an explosion. What follows is an increasingly improbable international chase, delivered through Voloz’s trademark combination of physical theatre, object work, comedy and live music.

Lofferon is joined by Voloz co-artistic directors Olivia Zerphy, Emily Wheatman and Sam Rayner, all four having trained at L’École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq. They are a seriously accomplished physical theatre company, and there is plenty here to demonstrate why. I particularly enjoyed the early advertising-office sequences and the secretary, while the horses are beautifully realised. The underwater sequence is another wonderfully inventive piece of physical storytelling, aided by the lighting design of Jodie Underwood. Frederick Waxman’s live music has also been an important part of the production’s development.

But comparison is part of the reviewing toolkit, and when the same company brings two shows to the same Fringe, it seems artificial not to make it. For me, REDACTED is simply the stronger proposition. Its storyline hangs together better, the performances feel sharper and its physical language seems more inventive and assured.

There is another crucial difference: the room.

Physical theatre like this needs concentrated sightlines. Here, the stage and auditorium are simply too wide. Within minutes I could feel the energy leaking sideways. The performers are working hard, the movement is good and the music and sound are doing their jobs, but the space diffuses what should be tightly focused. Spoken word requires greater projection, physical images have to work across too many angles, and some of that wonderful precision inevitably gets lost.

Ironically, therefore, seeing these productions in this order reveals just how far Voloz have travelled. The Man Who Thought He Knew Too Much isn’t a step backwards at all. It is where they came from. The ideas, physical intelligence, wit and considerable talent are already here. REDACTED simply shows what happens when all of those ingredients evolve, tighten and find exactly the right room in which to breathe.

Voloz remain a terrific physical theatre company. At this Fringe, they have simply brought an even better show along with them.

Playing until August 30th 2026,https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/2026MANWHOT

Reviewer: Greg Holstead

Reviewed: 20th August 2026

North West End UK / Theatre Muse UK Rating: