Brainwashed
Brainwashed is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at Paradise in The Vault. It has 13 performances listed, running from Mon 17 Aug, 21:30 to Sun 30 Aug, 21:30. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.
About this show
Brainwashed is a dark comedy about being the most beautiful baby in a brutal dictatorship. Born in the Soviet Union and raised in Belarus, Alina Konon takes her personal experience with propaganda and turns it into a soup. Expect propaganda, audience participation, and the appearance of some notable Soviet figures. It's personal, political, and unhinged. Brainwashed previously sold out at Hollywood Fringe and won the Best of Actors Company Award.
Details
- Venue: Paradise in The Vault
- Space: The Annexe
- Genre: COMEDY, Dark comedy, Clown
- Country: UNITED STATES
- Running time: 55 minutes
- Room size: about 45 seats (The Annexe) — the Fringe box office sells a share of the room, not all of it
- Performances listed: 13, of which 0 still to come and on sale
Accessibility
- Access features: Accessible toilet
- Venue notes: Accessible entry: The Annexe is located next door to The Vault. Audiences leave the main foyer onto Merchant Street then access the Annexe via the Pend. There are 2 - 3 steps in the Pend then a narrow staircase inside the space. The audience enters at the rear of the raked auditorium. Stairs: 6 - 10 Number of stairs is provided as guidance and is not in addition to any wheelchair access type (lift/ramp etc) stated above.
What the reviewers said
We have captured 2 published reviews and 13 audience reviews for this show from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s own listing. The excerpts below are the reviewers’ words, not ours — follow each link for the full review.
With nothing but a shovel sharing the stage with her, Alina Konon created one of the darkest, funniest and most interesting shows at the Fringe.
— Snack Mag (5 out of 5 stars)
What does it mean when nothing is what it seems? What is it like to grow up in a dictatorship? And what does it mean to be Brainwashed? 4 Stars
Performance dates and ticket availability
- Mon 17 Aug, 21:30 — Already performed — £12.00
- Tue 18 Aug, 21:30 — Already performed — £12.00
- Wed 19 Aug, 21:30 — Already performed — £12.00
- Thu 20 Aug, 21:30 — Already performed — £12.00
- Fri 21 Aug, 21:30 — Already performed — £12.00
- Sat 22 Aug, 21:30 — Already performed — £12.00
- Mon 24 Aug, 21:30 — Already performed — £12.00
- Tue 25 Aug, 21:30 — Already performed — £12.00
- Wed 26 Aug, 21:30 — Already performed — £12.00
- Thu 27 Aug, 21:30 — Already performed — £12.00
- Fri 28 Aug, 21:30 — Already performed — £12.00
- Sat 29 Aug, 21:30 — Already performed — £12.00
- Sun 30 Aug, 21:30 — Cancelled — £12.00