Writer: Linus Karp
Director: Linus Karp & Joseph Martin
Just days before Fringe 2024, Linus Karp (Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story) was the victim of a homophobic attack in London. The case never made it to court—until now.
Known for their signature camp, audience-interactive spoofs, Awkward Productions’ latest offering feels tonally distinct yet unmistakably theirs. Framed around a hand-sketched London backdrop and role cards distributed at the door, the show recounts the attack, the harrowing 999 call made by his then-fiancé Joseph Martin, and the frustrating aftermath. Karp masterfully navigates jaw-dropping realities—stark statistics on queer hate crimes, system failures, and the absurdities of the legal process—sweeping away the darkness with instant, sharply crafted laughs.
The narrative candidly explores the burden of public trauma, from social media turning Karp into an involuntary confession booth to the paranoia of living in a city that suddenly felt unsafe. Yet, Linus Karp Was Hit With An Umbrella refuses to surrender to fear. The show builds toward a cathartic trial before celebrating Karp and Martin’s historic, very public Fringe wedding—reclaiming their narrative so that the event’s true legacy becomes one of unyielding queer joy.
In true Awkward Productions style, the climax is pure, unadulterated theatre: a wildly camp, high-energy finale packed with theatrical spectacle. Audiences even leave with a personal “queer joy task” drawn from an umbrella at the door.
Bold, devastating, and gloriously funny, this is a brave and triumphant piece of work that turns personal trial into ultimate celebration.
Runs until 30 August 2026 | Image: David Bird
