How Not to Make it in America
How Not to Make it in America is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at Summerhall. It has 24 performances listed, running from Thu 6 Aug, 21:20 to Mon 31 Aug, 21:20. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.
About this show
It's 2001. A naive young Australian actor arrives in New York. One man plays twenty-eight characters in this heartbreakingly funny award-winning play about 9/11 and chasing your dreams. Twenty-five years after September 11 changed the world, performer James Smith transforms from a hopeful Aussie to a weary New York lawyer to a British compulsive liar (to name a few), in a fragmented story inspired by playwright Emily Steel's real-life experiences. 'Beautifully told, deeply resonant' * (List). 'Go see it and take all of your friends' * (GlamAdelaide.com.au).
Details
- Venue: Summerhall
- Space: Former Gents Locker Room
- Genre: THEATRE, Drama, Dark Comedy
- Country: AUSTRALIA
- Running time: 60 minutes
- Room size: about 45 seats (Former Gents Locker Room) — the Fringe box office sells a share of the room, not all of it
- Performances listed: 24, of which 0 still to come and on sale
Accessibility
- Wheelchair access: lift
- Access features: Step-free access, Accessible toilet
- Venue notes: Wheelchair access type:Lift (Building Lift) 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 5 published reviews and 11 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.
A sharply performed, intelligently structured account of ambition refusing to recognise when the odds have won.
— Edinburgh Guide (4 out of 5 stars)
Statistics vary, but it’s believed that only 2% of actors manage to make a sustainable living from the profession. While talent will be one factor, it is not necessarily the defining one.
— RIALTO
It captures the chaos, absurdity and emotional fallout of a life derailed and reshaped.
— Theatre in Edinburgh (4 out of 5 stars)
Performance dates and ticket availability
- Thu 6 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £10.00
- Fri 7 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Sat 8 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Sun 9 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Mon 10 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Tue 11 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Wed 12 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Thu 13 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Fri 14 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Sat 15 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Sun 16 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Tue 18 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Wed 19 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Thu 20 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Fri 21 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Sat 22 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Sun 23 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Tue 25 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Wed 26 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Thu 27 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Fri 28 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Sat 29 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Sun 30 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00
- Mon 31 Aug, 21:20 — Already performed — £17.00