An unusually personal and introspective show, Linus Karp shares his experience and the aftermath of being a victim of a queer hate crime.
Awkward Prods are a fringe staple, award-winning producers of the camp creations Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story and Gwyneth Goes Skiing. The real-life events that this show is based on took place in July 2024, as Karp and partner (now husband) Joseph Martin were preparing to bring Gwyneth to that year’s festival. While walking in Soho, an unknown male appeared from nowhere and assaulted Karp while shouting homophobic abuse. Martin pursued and restrained the attacker until police arrived, and the man was arrested.
Despite the difficult events experienced, and the impact on him, this show is full of humour and wit. Drawing on his eager audience, some of whom have been assigned roles, Karp is able to challenge a range of comments made about his experience, all the time displaying his natural warmth.
The piece utilises a range of media to tell Karp’s tale, from storytelling to song and puppetry to projection. The impact of such an attack on mental health, safety and sense of wellbeing is well drawn, and Karp hits moments of pure sincerity in between the campy quips. The “mock trial” device is a helpful tool in bringing some control and back to his life after such a frightening and destabilising event, and certainly brings some sense of closure.
Bold and unapologetic, much like it’s narrator, Linus Karp Was Hit With An Umbrella is an attempt at a different type of production from those they have presented before, and it is brave to take the risk of doing a different type of show to tell an important story. It is still a whole lot of fun, with a finale that will knock your socks off.
By Deborah Klayman
Linus Karp Was Hit With An Umbrella plays at Underbelly Bristo Square, Edinburgh until August 30th 2026.