Aim

We are delighted to be fundraising to bring the award-winning debut play by Eric Yu, 'Death of a Disco Dancer', to Edinburgh Fringe 2022.

'This is the most alive you will ever be. All young and bright and...sexy. You’ve got to grab it. Hold onto it until you’ve squeezed it to death.'

Sometimes, talking about a problem can make it even harder to understand.

Set over one night of dancing, debauchery and drugs, Death of a Disco Dancer is an essential black comedy centring around the charismatic but troubled Mattie. During a neon laced reunion with old friends, Mattie's nihilistic behaviour pushes the boundaries of their love to the limit. As they dance deeper into the surreal night, the rotten core of their relationships comes to light, and we begin to question if the addiction Mattie experiences is the drugs they take, or the applause of the crowd they receive.

We are so excited to bring Death of a Disco Dancer to Edinburgh Fringe 2022. With a cast of four, recently graduated from top London Drama Schools, Disco Dancer exposes the dirty underside of youth culture, often glamorised and idealised by modern media. 

As students and graduates that have navigated a global pandemic on top of the pressures of university life, we know first-hand that mental health disorders are sky-rocketing in young-adult demographics. Through the lens of a singular chaotic party, we will present these contentious themes of addiction, depression and anxiety in ways that are accessible, digestible and engaging. 

 Everyone remembers a time when they were young, and life was more care-free, wild and chaotic. There is an undeniable nostalgia to Disco Dancer, not least due to the 90s Brit-pop-esque music that accompanies the show. The story is not simply a reflection on today's youth culture, but that momentary self-destructive streak that many of us may have felt at some point in life. Our unique presentation of these timeless, universal themes will appeal to all adult demographics who reminisce about those 'chaotic years' when they were young. And for some people, like our protagonist Mattie, those years are inescapable.

Edinburgh Fringe is known worldwide for showcasing the best of new, cutting edge, contemporary theatre. We believe in the power of our show and its message, and that it deserves a platform to showcase it to a wider audience. As well as our production being an unflinching portrayal of university drug culture, and an unexpected paean to those affected by drug abuse and mental illness, the opportunity to go to Fringe is also invaluable on a personal level. As graduates with our sights set on the UK theatre scene, Fringe will allow us access to new horizons in our future careers. However, with the standards and competition for the festival so high we are asking for your support to aid our production. Your generosity will go towards venue hire, technical equipment, staging, marketing and countless other facets that goes into making great theatre. Any donations, support and shares will be immensely appreciated, and we can't wait to plunge you into the world of Death of a Disco Dancer.

This project successfully funded on 29th June 2022