The Business Man and The Case of M. Valdemar
The Business Man and The Case of M. Valdemar by One Man Poe is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at Greenside @ Riddles Court. It has 14 performances listed, running from Fri 7 Aug, 18:35 to Fri 28 Aug, 12:45. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.
About this show
Discover two lesser-known stories from Edgar Allan Poe. First, in Poe's dark and comedic political satire on American capitalism, the dubious, "self-made" businessman Peter Proffit wants your vote as President of the United States. Then, a gruesome account of an experiment gone wrong, when a renowned mesmerist hypnotises his willing patient at the very moment of his death. Brand new for the 2026 Fringe, One Man Poe adds this more obscure, yet distinctly unsettling, double bill to its critically acclaimed repertoire of the finest examples of gothic literature.
Details
- Performer: One Man Poe
- Venue: Greenside @ Riddles Court
- Space: Willow Studio
- Genre: THEATRE, Dark comedy, Horror
- Country: UNITED KINGDOM - ENGLAND
- Running time: 55 minutes
- Room size: about 60 seats (Willow Studio) — the Fringe box office sells a share of the room, not all of it
- Performances listed: 14, 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: None 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 21 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.
But it’s not just the stories that help the show stand out. It is that commitment to putting on a full performance.
— Everything Theatre (4 out of 5 stars)
Smith runs Three Dumb Theatre, who you can find on social media platforms. It is worth following then for regular updates about where the performances are going next.
— Theatre and Arts Reviews (5 out of 5 stars)
Stephen Antony Smith has made a bit of a name for himself by producing short and snappy ‘horror double features’ based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe.
Performance dates and ticket availability
- Fri 7 Aug, 18:35 — Already performed — £10.00
- Sat 8 Aug, 12:45 — Already performed — £10.00
- Mon 10 Aug, 18:35 — Already performed — £17.00
- Tue 11 Aug, 12:45 — Already performed — £16.00
- Thu 13 Aug, 18:35 — Already performed — £17.00
- Fri 14 Aug, 12:45 — Already performed — £16.00
- Mon 17 Aug, 18:35 — Already performed — £17.00
- Tue 18 Aug, 12:45 — Already performed — £16.00
- Thu 20 Aug, 18:35 — Already performed — £17.00
- Fri 21 Aug, 12:45 — Already performed — £16.00
- Mon 24 Aug, 18:35 — Already performed — £17.00
- Tue 25 Aug, 12:45 — Already performed — £16.00
- Thu 27 Aug, 18:35 — Already performed — £17.00
- Fri 28 Aug, 12:45 — Already performed — £16.00