Triple Fringe First Award winners Xhloe and Natasha return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with the world premiere of Bigfoot Ripped My Dog In Half I Saw It, a bold and absurdist new work blending physical theatre, dark comedy and striking visual storytelling.
Set in a flood-ravaged Appalachian town in the 1990s, the play follows two teenagers who begin faking Bigfoot sightings as a way to pass the time. What starts as a harmless joke soon spirals into something far more dangerous when a neighbour’s dog is found brutally torn apart, sending the community into a frenzy of paranoia and conspiracy.
As suspicion spreads and tensions rise, the town fractures under the weight of superstition, fear and a looming environmental crisis. With the water levels climbing and reality becoming increasingly distorted, the teenagers are forced to confront the consequences of their actions and the possibility that something far more sinister may be at play.
Blending choreographed movement, clowning and a towering nine-foot puppet, the production explores how misinformation takes hold and how easily communities can be drawn into cycles of fear and distraction. With their signature fast-paced, physically inventive style, Xhloe and Natasha craft a theatrical experience that is both playful and unsettling.
Co-writers and performers Xhloe Rice and Natasha Roland comment, “We are so excited to be returning to Edinburgh with a new piece. This show has been shaped by our past experiences at Fringe, the landscape of the US over the course of last year, and shifts in attitudes toward live performance, nihilism, and misinformation. This piece feels like a true culmination of how we’ve grown and changed as artists since our debut at the Fringe only four years ago, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with Soho Theatre and Soho Playhouse to make it happen.”
Presented in association with Soho Theatre and SoHo Playhouse as part of Soho Theatre’s Edinburgh Fringe season, the production continues the duo’s exploration of Americana, myth and cultural storytelling. Known for their highly physical and genre-defying work, Xhloe and Natasha have quickly established themselves as one of the most exciting rising forces in contemporary theatre.
With its mix of absurd humour, visual spectacle and sharp thematic focus, Bigfoot Ripped My Dog In Half I Saw It promises a thought-provoking and darkly entertaining take on conspiracy culture, community and the power of collective belief.
Bigfoot Ripped My Dog In Half I Saw It runs at Summerhall Arts (Main Hall) from 6 – 30 August (not 18 & 25 August) at 21:10. Tickets are on sale here
