Lamesha Ruddock
ADEY ኣደይ is the instantly welcoming, deeply humanising show I’ve been craving.
At a crossroads after finishing drama school, Bethlehem is on the grind, sending self-tapes in, writing poetry and figuring out her next steps. At the core of ADEY ኣደይ is, despite her immense talent and tenacity, her mother Tsehaynesh is perplexed as to why her daughter isn’t being recognised.
As a Finsbury Park immigrant girlie, this story hit home. Dedicated to the 00s North London that showed us the world, the beauty of diversity through embracing different cultures and lived experiences. A forever dialogue between her and her Eritrean mother, who simultaneously is apprehensive of her decisions, and her biggest supporter.
ADEY ኣደይ reminds us that this is your mum’s first time living too and her sacrifices are the seeds that grow inside of you. The seeds that allow you to find your voice, in your local and your mother tongue.
As you enter the auditorium, we are drawn into Bethlehem’s sacred space, her living room, the carpet donning a hotplate with a well-loved sauce pan, a coffee table and remnants of popcorn.
Bethlehem waxes lyrical as she delivers love letters to all her homes from Eriteria, to her mother’s lov,e to the ends, she devotes her words earnestly and honestly.
From the Queen of West Green to North London Hymm, we watch the inner workings of Bethelham’s creative process as she uses her solitude, tunes from her headphones, and time spent with her notebook to paint beautiful words together.
Bethlehem effectively embraces her North London identity and her Eritrean heritage, evoking her ancestors that live within her through wrapping her hair with a deep-red, yellow-text “Eritrea” scarf.
Sound is cleverly used to maintain the undeniable presence of her mother, her influence, and her encouragement of Bethlehem to reclaim her linguistic inheritance, perfectly cued by Sam Hackney-Ring. From English to Tigrinya, from live to recorded.
Bethlehem is both absolutely mesmerising and playful, making the audience feel safe yet important witnesses, deploying members of the audience as her personal self-tape videographer as we grow more and more invested in her success.
ADEY ኣደይ is one of those shows that disarms you. It leaves you wanting to send WhatsApp voice notes to all the matriarchs in your life, yearning to hear their voices, just so you know everything is going to be alright. They hear you, so you are heard.
Recommended Drink: A nice cup of home brewed coffee.
Performances of ADEY ኣደይ have now concluded at EdFringe 2026.
Issy Cory
Isobel Jacob
Esme Davis
