The Last Audition makes its UK premiere at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, bringing a poignant solo drama that explores memory, identity and the impact of dementia.
Written and performed by Paul Shearman, the show follows an ageing Shakespearean actor preparing for what may be his final performance. As he rehearses alone, his grip on language begins to slip, blurring the lines between past roles and present reality.
Drawing inspiration from King Lear and personal experience, the production examines what it means for an actor to lose not just memory, but the words that define both career and self. Through a mix of humour and vulnerability, the piece reflects on the emotional toll of ageing and the quiet strength required to continue.
Shearman said, “The play asks what remains of us when the roles, memories, and lines we have carried begin to disappear.”
The Last Audition runs at theSpace on the Mile from 07 – 29 August at 19:25. Tickets are on sale here
