REVIEW: The Subplot: A Hyperfixation on the Titan Submersible, Sophie Smyth and Quiet Riot, EdFringe 2026 ★★★

Does you remember the OceanGate Titan submersible getting lost in the depths of the Atlantic ocean? Do you remember that eventually it was confirmed that it imploded, killing its Billionaire passengers? How it defined an entire internet era? Had you forgotten all about it? Writer and performer Sophie Smyth certainly hasn’t.

Switching between a presentation (using a laptop hooked up to a screen, controlled by Smyth herself using a Logitech F710 controller) and a reimagining of what it would have been like to be a passenger on the Titan Submersible, The Subplot is an extremely fast-paced and energetic hour that will gives you real and detailed understanding to the events that took place in the lead up to, during, and after the catastrophic implosion.

Smyth is engaging throughout, creating effective shifts in tone using a captivating voice, her excellently physical performance style and a total commitment to the concept of the extensive deep-dive (pardon the pun) into every nook and cranny of her hyperfixation.

Some of the comic timing doesn’t quite land right; jokes about astrology, being “just a girl” and doxxing fall a little flat and are perhaps too forced, a little too online, when the real comedy comes from the hyperfixation itself (and the endless and hilarious “subplots” we get sidetracked with). On the other hand, I was highly entertained by a section about how the internet responded to the Titan Sub implosion story, where Smyth shares real memes and TikToks on the screen. This is a moment where we get to see Smyth’s pure joy, pride even, at how her special interest can be a uniting force.

Small details, like Smyth mouthing along to the interviews and news reports she shares, are endearing and you can’t help but warm to Smyth straight away. The brief moments of direct audience interaction are welcome, yet they ultimately feel inconsequential to the course of the show and, therefore, feel a little skimmed over. Similarly, attempts to ask more philosophical questions about the wider political and social implications of the Titan Submersible story stunt the progress of the hyperfixation itself unfolding, and I think Smyth could have trusted that their implication is strong enough. The loveliest scenes are when we get to know other aspects of her as a person – for example, we get to hear a haiku she wrote about a date – and her writing is at its most effective when it becomes heightened and poetic, too, using rhyming and a frantic delivery style to build successfully to the play’s climax, where Smyth’s expressive diction and pure dedication is fantastic.

Smyth’s use of real footage, photographs, screenshots and even legal documents tie the show together and help us to understand the true extent of her obsession. I would have liked, though, for Smyth to fully lean into the slightly lofi, I-am-doing-this-for-real staging. Screenshots from her phone were brought up as a picture of an iPhone on the screen: the immense and unnecessary effort feels like the joy of The Subplot, and so, whilst a small detail, fully leaning into this and trying to show us on her actual phone would have been a stronger decision, in my opinion.

The Subplot comes to an unexpectedly impactful conclusion, revealing a vulnerable and poignant insight into Smyth’s autism, where she explains how her hyperfixation, and her lack of ability to self-regulate sometimes, can affect her relationships and leave her feeling alienated and ashamed. Smyth honestly unpacks her experiences with an open yet sensitive tone, revealing how Autism Spectrum Disorder can create challenges to overcome but, ultimately, this show would not exist without it! Concluding with some pertinent reflections on the world surrounding the Titan Submersible tale, The Subplot is ultimately a thought-provoking piece of theatre which uses its unique form and niche subject matter to reflect on universal themes of mortality, purpose and what we’re willing to sacrifice.

Recommended Drink: Something fizzy – a lemonade or cola – to match this bubbly, spirited show.

The Subplot: A Hyperfixation on the Titan Submersible is on at Summerhall until 31 August at 15:20 (1 hour). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.