The Lost Gospel
The Lost Gospel by Pilate is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at Pleasance Courtyard. It has 23 performances listed, running from Wed 5 Aug, 10:45 to Sun 30 Aug, 10:45. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.
About this show
For a man at the heart of one of history's most important events we know very little about Pontius Pilate. Was he a heartless monster or a humanist baffled by the historical forces swirling around him? Born into violence, surviving Rome's worst defeat in Germany then taking that experience to Judea and an encounter with a mysterious carpenter from Galilee. 'Maxwell Caulfield brings quiet authority and unsettling complexity to the role of Pontius Pilate... part memoir, part thriller...' (Hollywood Times). 'Only one word here for Caulfield: Sublime' (Bennington Banner).
Details
- Performer: Pilate
- Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
- Space: Above
- Genre: THEATRE
- Country: UNITED STATES
- Running time: 75 minutes
- Room size: about 146 seats (Above) — the Fringe box office sells a share of the room, not all of it
- Performances listed: 23, of which 0 still to come and on sale
Accessibility
- Wheelchair access: lift
- Access features: Step-free access, Accessible toilet, Hearing loop
- Venue notes: Accessible entry: Main queue on road outside. Lift access through Pleasance Bar — ask at Box Office or bar for assistance. Performance space is on the First Floor up 20 steps on a permanent stone staircase that has handrails. Lift dimensions are 1200mm x 1200mm, max. weight 500kg. The lift can accept power wheelchairs. Wheelchair access type:Lift (Building Lift) Stairs: 11- 20 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 8 published reviews and 33 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.
Written by Michael Punter and exploring the gaps in the historic records behind one of the best known stories on the planet, Pilate: The Lost Gospel is an extended monologue delivered by Maxwell Caulfield in simple…
The play’s need of a dramaturg aside, it is nonetheless a meticulously researched play, delivered with passion and enthusiasm.
— Theatre in Edinburgh (3 out of 5 stars)
It’s a finely nuanced interpretation of a merciful yet ruthless ruler, that brings a degree of humanity to a figure that, despite his cruelty, it’s hard not to feel sympathy for his situation he finds himself in.
— Must See Theatre (4 out of 5 stars)
Performance dates and ticket availability
- Wed 5 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £11.00
- Thu 6 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £11.00
- Fri 7 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £18.00
- Sat 8 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £18.00
- Sun 9 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £18.00
- Mon 10 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £18.00
- Tue 11 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £18.00
- Thu 13 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £18.00
- Fri 14 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £18.00
- Sat 15 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £18.00
- Sun 16 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £18.00
- Mon 17 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £16.00
- Tue 18 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £16.00
- Thu 20 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £18.00
- Fri 21 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £18.00
- Sat 22 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £18.00
- Sun 23 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £18.00
- Mon 24 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £16.00
- Wed 26 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £16.00
- Thu 27 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £18.00
- Fri 28 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £18.00
- Sat 29 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £18.00
- Sun 30 Aug, 10:45 — Already performed — £18.00