#VILE: The Untimely Demise of a Manufactured Pop Star

2017

theSpace @Jury’s, Edinburgh Fringe 14-26th Aug

A pitch-black, satirical comedy for a cynical, digital age.

Chronicling the social media-induced breakdown of a D-list celebrity, this one-man show explores the dark realities of fame, ambition, existential angst, social media and masturbating in an accessible toilet at the Pride of Britain Awards.

Indoctrinated into the cult of celebrity from birth and still reeling his first heartbreak, our protagonist achieved in his late teens what our culture values most highly: a low level of national recognition following exposure on a reality television programme.

Now a manufactured pop star, he is famed for his social media presence, his ‘British Kardashian' pop starlet girlfriend and his brief spells presenting magazine pieces on breakfast television. He is the epitome of contemporary minor mainstream success. Only, he doesn’t feel that way, he feels vile, and he hardly even recognises the man who looks back at him from his profile pictures.​

Initially developed with the support of London's Theatre N16 as part of its ‘N16: Presents’ showcase of exciting young creatives, and also enjoying support from the Soho Theatre through the Soho Theatre Young Company, #VILE: The Untimely Demise of a Manufactured Pop Star was Wound Up's first one man show which enjoyed a barnstorming run at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe.

#VILE is the story of a famous-ish man, who returns to his northern home town just as his forced persona of banality begins to slip away, with hilarious, offensive and potentially deadly consequences.

CREATIVE TEAM & CAST

Written & performed by Matthew Greenhough

Directed by Dom Riley

Produced by Abbee McCallum

Costume Designed by Alice Cousins

Sound Designed by Ben Everett Riley

Technical Support from Ikram Gilani