The Hunger Artist by Franz Kafka
The Hunger Artist by Franz Kafka is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at Rotunda Theatre. It has 14 performances listed, running from Fri 7 Aug, 13:45 to Sun 23 Aug, 13:45. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.
About this show
What is Art? What is an Artist? What would you do for what you love the most? Franz Kafka gives us The Hunger Artist: a man who turns fasting into an art form, who nourishes his soul the only way he knows, by starving himself. In his small cage, he seeks acclaim for his craft and acceptance by the spectators. This is his life's purpose, he will stop at nothing in his pursuit of perfection. A dramatic and inspiring solo retelling of the final penning from Kafka. Actor: Jon Sidgwick (Berkoff's Oedipus).
Details
- Venue: Rotunda Theatre
- Space: Squeak
- Genre: THEATRE, Drama, Solo show
- Country: UNITED KINGDOM - ENGLAND
- Running time: 50 minutes
- Room size: about 50 seats (Squeak) — 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: level
- Access features: Step-free access, Accessible toilet
- Venue notes: Wheelchair access type:Level Access 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 3 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.
This particular artist in the travelling cage wants to be internationally acclaimed and admired by his once adoring audiences.
— Theatre and Arts Reviews (5 out of 5 stars)
I had never seen any of Kafka’s work performed live. So I was intrigued to see Kafka’s final story, The Hunger Artist, portrayed by Jonathan Sidgwick at the Rotunda Theatre.
People have always gone to extreme lengths for art, physically, mentally and emotionally. Based on Franz Kafka’s short story, this one-man show introduces us to a professional hunger artist and explores how one person…
— The Scotsman (3 out of 5 stars)
Performance dates and ticket availability
- Fri 7 Aug, 13:45 — Already performed — £14.00
- Sat 8 Aug, 13:45 — Already performed — £14.00
- Sun 9 Aug, 13:45 — Already performed — £14.00
- Mon 10 Aug, 13:45 — Already performed — £14.00
- Tue 11 Aug, 13:45 — Already performed — £14.00
- Wed 12 Aug, 13:45 — Already performed — £12.00
- Thu 13 Aug, 13:45 — Already performed — £12.00
- Fri 14 Aug, 13:45 — Already performed — £14.00
- Sat 15 Aug, 13:45 — Already performed — £14.00
- Sun 16 Aug, 13:45 — Already performed — £14.00
- Mon 17 Aug, 13:45 — Already performed — £12.00
- Tue 18 Aug, 13:45 — Already performed — £12.00
- Sat 22 Aug, 13:45 — Already performed — £14.00
- Sun 23 Aug, 13:45 — Already performed — £14.00