Oli Fuller
The world has ended, but not even the apocolypse can stop a white man with a podcast.
End of the World FM takes place over the course of 15 years in 60 minutes, from day one of the end of the world to the 15 year anniversary. The piece follows the character, performed and written by Kevin Martin Murphy, broadcasting a radio show in a desperate attempt to find any other remaining person alive on earth. Throughout the show we witnesss his decent into madness as years pass, asking for people to call into the show and inevitably talking to no one. It is a comedic and gutting representation of isolation and loss.
Though the plot differs greatly, the themes and setting are remarkably similar to a play I saw last year in Edinburgh, Deep Time Atomic Waste Pleasure Party, even down to some of the music used in the piece. There is no direct correlation between these two plays, but it felt wrong to review this without acknowledging the simalarity. Both are excellent shows in their own right that are absolutely worth going to see if you are given the opportunity.
The intensity Kevin brings to the character is brilliant, he feels real from the moment he enters the stage and the specificity and confidence with which this role is played brings a terrifying reality to the end times.
If I had to criticise this piece, I would note that multiple times throughout the piece he refers to “men and women” or “boys and girls” as the people of the world, while I appreciate that trans rights may not be the first thing on this man’s mind during the literal apocalypse, I did find this quite alienating as a non-binary person in the audience.
This show is both comedic and heartbreaking, and performed with confidence and talent worthy of awards.
Recommended Drink: Pair this with Radioactive Goo.
You can catch End of the World FM until August 16th at Theatre 2 at theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall from 23:15 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Jake Mace
Lamesha Ruddock
Jasmine Silk
