Performance artist Hendrik Quast brings Spill your Guts to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, presenting an intimate new version of his internationally acclaimed work at Greenside @ Riddles Court.
Blending ventriloquism, comedy and music, the show unfolds as a surreal two-hander between Quast and his outspoken puppet. Set in a waiting room, the pair spiral into chaotic exchanges as they confront a relentless force: a body that refuses to stay silent.
What begins as a seemingly traditional ventriloquism act quickly unravels into something far more unpredictable. As Quast and his dummy argue over shame, illness and identity, the performance delves into stories of chronic illness, medical encounters and the uneasy relationship between body and self.
Developed from Quast’s own experiences of living with inflammatory bowel disease, the work explores who holds authority over the sick body, whether it is the patient, the medical system or the condition itself. Through dark humour and theatrical absurdity, the production opens up new ways of talking about illness, vulnerability and control.
Originally presented at leading European venues and selected for Radikal Jung at Volkstheater München, where it received the Masterclass Award, the piece now arrives in Edinburgh in its first English-language version, translated by David Tushingham.
Combining physical theatre with biting wit, Spill your Guts offers a striking and unconventional perspective on the body, illness and the stories we tell to make sense of them.
Spill your Guts runs at Greenside @ Riddles Court from 07 – 22 August at 20:45. Tickets are on sale hereÂ
