Billed as a ‘glitter-soaked tragicomedy cabaret’, Kat McGarr debuts her first standalone show STARDUST starring Star Dust (In Person) at Edinburgh Fringe 2025. Long-time Punchdrunk performer, most recently and notably as co-director, writer and performer of underworld cabaret PEEP nestled in the legendary immersive company's grand scale masked masterpiece The Burnt City, McGarr is well-versed in intimate and risky theatre as well as in rip-roaring comedic audience interactive entertainment, and this show delights in both.
Emerging from the back of the house, fallen cinema legend Star Dust clambers back to her stage once more. 70s lounge synth keys (Robyn Herfellow) accompany the musings of this supernova Norma Desmond, absolutely gilded from forehead to fingertip and gunning for her comeback in her flamboyant duster robe.
Speaking of dust, there are starry puns aplenty and witty meteoric metaphors in droves throughout this comedic cosmic display; it’s endlessly fun. Weaving in and amongst the absurdity, surprisingly touching and beautiful original songs and vocal stylings take us all down to earth briefly, and it is through these moments that the inspiration behind this show shines. A creation born out of grief, this piece was written as a way to bring some light into the dark after McGarr recently lost her parents in quite close succession. As Star Dust struggles to unpack her (literal) baggage, under the glitter McGarr is coping with her own heaviness and ache which brings real emotion to the otherwise silly spectacle; however, as an audience member your troubles are whisked away for this hour of clever clowning.
A raucous sing-a-long brings in the finale with a gleeful chorus of hope. It’s marvellously mad. It’s golden. Go see it!
STARDUST Starring Star Dust (In Person)
Clover at Underbelly, Bristo Square
Until 24 August (not 12, 18-19)
Age Guidance 16+