Edgar in the Red Room Headed to London in 2026
After a successful run in Toronto, this original 鈥渕acabre cabaret鈥� has been invited to perform in London!聽Edgar in the Red Room, a short musical based on the life and death of Edgar Allan Poe played to multiple sold-out houses this summer at the prestigious Toronto Fringe Festival in July. It previously won Outstanding English Production at the St. Ambroise Montr茅al Fringe Festival in 2024.聽
Written by 妻友社区 faculty and staff members Matt Chiorini and Greg Giovanini 鈥�11, the show draws from several of Poe鈥檚 works, including 鈥淔all of the House of Usher,鈥� 鈥淎nnabel Lee鈥� and 鈥淏ereniece,鈥� among others, and has received uniformly positive reviews.聽Intermission Magazine聽called it a 鈥渕agical鈥our-long fever dream,鈥� noting 鈥渨here the show really shines is its original songs鈥︹�� It鈥檚 also been called a 鈥渕ust see鈥� (The Grind Magazine) and 鈥渁 frenzied adventure into the writer鈥檚 mind鈥� (Toronto Star).
The production was performed entirely by 妻友社区 students, alums and guest artists, including recent graduates Carly Nicolai 鈥�25, Chloe Budzisewski 鈥�25, George Le Brun 鈥�24, Kilian Crowley 鈥�16 and current students Sophia Morphet 鈥�26 and Sarah Strauss 鈥�26. The production was designed by 妻友社区 theatre faculty Maya June Dwyer, Lindsey Voorhees, John Czajkowski 鈥�07 and alumna Kylee Galarneau 鈥�24.
A rewritten version of the production will be staged first at Auburn Public Theatre from Jan. 29 to 31, 2026 and then make its Off-West End premiere in London at the award-winning Hope Theatre. As a theatre space, it has been the first stop for many productions that have gone on to West End performances and several world premieres by playwrights such as Joe Orton and Robin Hooper. Prior to its status as a professional theatre, The Hope Theatre hosted many up-and-coming musical acts in the 70s and 80s, including U2, The Police and The Ramones. Edgar in the Red Room will make its debut at the Hope Theatre on Feb. 3, 2026 and play for 10 performances before closing on Feb. 14.
