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Award-winning storyteller Stephen Smith brings Edgar Allan Poe’s words to life as never before.
Immerse yourself in two of Edgar Allan Poe’s macabre classics, performed live on stage.
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American writer, poet, critic and editor best known for evocative short stories and poems that captured the imagination and interest of readers around the world. His imaginative storytelling and tales of mystery and horror gave birth to the modern detective story.
Using Edgar Allan Poe’s original text from the 1840s, award-winning actor Stephen Smith faithfully brings to life two of the most terrifying examples of the gothic genre from the pioneering “Godfather of Gothic Horror.”
The Tell-Tale Heart
In The Tell-Tale Heart we encounter a madman, trying his hardest to convince us of his sanity, whilst explaining the meticulous details of a murder he committed whilst carrying out the perfect crime.
The Pit and the Pendulum
In The Pit and the Pendulum we join a prisoner trying to escape the various torture devices of the Spanish Inquisition.
Saturday 27 September 2025 : 1.30pm
Saturday 27 September 2025 : 4.30pm
Saturday 27 September 2025 : 7.30pm
Tickets : £15
★★★★★
An incredibly gripping and enthralling evening
North West End
★★★★★
A captivating night
Broadway Baby
★★★★★
Superlative performance… Quite literally took my breath away
Everything Theatre
★★★★★
Edgar Allan Poe himself would love this powerful performance
The Derek Awards
★★★★★
The passion and understanding of how horror can captivate an audience are beautifully composed by Smith.
MyTheatreMates
★★★★★
Perhaps the definitive Fringe interpretation of these already much-loved works
The Wee Review
★★★★
The combination of Poe and Smith will have your imagination running wild.
The Reviews Hub
★★★★
Classic, clever and quick, this one-man horror performance is a must-see for genre lovers.
Starburst Magazine
Written by Edgar Allan Poe
Directed and performed by Stephen Smith
Music and sound designer – Joseph Furey
Sound designer – Django Holder
Previous lighting designers & operators:
Eddie Stephens, Han Sayles, Jennifer Plackemeier
Dramaturgical support:
Amber Buttery for The Tell-Tale Heart
Amy Roberts for The Pit and the Pendulum
Supported by Watford Palace Theatre and The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
