The Distance
The Distance is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at Summerhall. It has 24 performances listed, running from Thu 6 Aug, 18:00 to Mon 31 Aug, 18:00. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.
About this show
He's been running his whole life. Time to catch up. When the football pitch freezes, Chris is forced into cross-country. Everyone hates it, but something in Chris ignites. A coming-of-age story set in the world of elite sport where everything is measured, every meal, every metre, every moment, asking why we push ourselves as far as we can... Then further. From former GB athlete Ben Norris, The Distance is part play, part extreme workout – a sweat-drenched exploration of ambition, identity and letting go. Directed by Julia Locascio. From the producers of SIX, Choir of Man and Playfight.
Details
- Venue: Summerhall
- Space: Main Hall
- Genre: THEATRE, New writing, Physical theatre
- Country: UNITED KINGDOM - ENGLAND
- Running time: 65 minutes
- Room size: about 146 seats (Main Hall) — 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: ramp
- Access features: Step-free access, Accessible toilet, Hearing loop
- Venue notes: Accessible entry: Once in the Courtyard, follow the signs up the access ramp, pass in front of the decking bar and into the main reception. Follow signage to the Lift. Take this to the first floor, then take a left through the double doors. The Main Hall is on your right. Wheelchair access type:Permanent Ramp, 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 4 published reviews and 25 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.
I remember the appeal of cross-country running at school. No team members to let down (because I was rubbish at sport), no equipment needed; and you finished earlier than all the other sports and went home more quickly.
— The Real Chrisparkle (5 out of 5 stars)
The Distance is a delight: darker than you might expect, funnier than you might expect, and full of hope, sadness and mesmerising storytelling.
— Voice Magazine (5 out of 5 stars)
An absolute powerhouse. The Distance is an athletically impressive, beautifully written and ultimately hopeful piece of theatre, drawing on Ben Norris’s own journey as a former GB long-distance runner.
— A Youngish Perspective (5 out of 5 stars)
Performance dates and ticket availability
- Thu 6 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £10.00
- Fri 7 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £20.00
- Sat 8 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £22.00
- Sun 9 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £22.00
- Mon 10 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £20.00
- Tue 11 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £20.00
- Wed 12 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £20.00
- Thu 13 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £22.00
- Fri 14 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £22.00
- Sat 15 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £22.00
- Sun 16 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £22.00
- Mon 17 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £20.00
- Wed 19 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £20.00
- Thu 20 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £22.00
- Fri 21 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £22.00
- Sat 22 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £22.00
- Sun 23 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £22.00
- Mon 24 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £20.00
- Wed 26 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £20.00
- Thu 27 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £22.00
- Fri 28 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £22.00
- Sat 29 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £22.00
- Sun 30 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £22.00
- Mon 31 Aug, 18:00 — Already performed — £20.00