Van Gogh & Me brings a compelling new exploration of artistic obsession and rivalry to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, as actor Jack Ellis reunites with playwright and director John Retallack for the first time in over four decades.
This solo performance delves into the intense nine-week period Vincent van Gogh spent living and working alongside Paul Gauguin in Arles in 1888. Written and directed by Retallack and performed by Ellis, the play explores the volatile dynamic between two of the most influential figures in modern art.
Ellis portrays both Van Gogh and Gauguin, shifting between their contrasting personalities to reveal a relationship driven by creative ambition, ego and emotional instability. The performance also incorporates elements of Ellis’s own personal connection to Van Gogh, adding a layer of autobiographical reflection.
The production features over 20 life-size recreations of Van Gogh’s paintings, designed by Rachel Marston, allowing audiences to step inside the world of the artists and experience their environment in an immersive way.
Blending storytelling, visual art and performance, Van Gogh & Me offers a powerful examination of creativity, identity and the cost of artistic collaboration.
Van Gogh & Me runs at Dovecot Studios from 13 – 31 August at Various Times. Tickets are on sale here
