Date
31 July - 24 August
Time
5:50 pm
Venue
Underbelly Cowgate
suitability
Age 16+ (Guideline)
Tickets from
£7.50
Theatre
The Monkeypox Gospel
A journalist’s big break becomes an unholy crisis.
NYC, Summer 2022. Ngofeen gets his first big assignment at The New Yorker. It’s about the global “monkeypox” outbreak, and he’s the ideal reporter: his family comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo (the virus’s origin), and infections are spreading through sexual contact within New York’s queer community, including his own social circle. With a disorganized government response and two million people preparing to attend NYC Pride in a few weeks, getting the word out is critical.
But the subject terrifies Ngofeen, having only recently left the evangelical church and broken his vow of lifelong celibacy (i.e. “you can be gay if you don’t act on it”). Now, by writing publicly about a world he rejected for so long, Ngofeen is testing the limits of the person he’s willing to become, while risking a confrontation with the community he’s abandoned.
Ngofeen breaks his silence in this personal epidemic tale, featuring behind-the-scenes reporting, real audio interviews, flights of fantasy, and nerdy tangents into theology, science, opera, and language.
written by Ngofeen Mputubwele
directed by Alex Hare
performed by Ngofeen Mputubwele and Alex Hare
Adapted from the new podcast. Artwork: @danieleldibujo
Presented By
Ngofeen Mputubwele
Duration
60 minutes
Advice
Strong language/swearing
Price
Tickets from
£7.50
Accessibility
Podcast. New writing
For more information on accessibility and to book tickets, please contact the box office at access@underbelly.co.uk, or visit https://underbellyedinburgh.co.uk/your-visit/accessibility
Wheelchair Spaces
Select a performance date and time
You might also like
Theatre
CADEL: Lungs on Legs
The epic true story of the first Australian to win the Tour de France, live on stage. Performed entirely on a bike in an epic theatrical feat of endurance by acclaimed Australian actor Connor Delves. Pedalling non-stop for an hour, he recreates the thrilling journey of Cadel's 2011 Tour de France win, and all the triumphs, heartaches and sacrifices made along the way. “Connor's vision for this show is bold and exciting, and I'm thrilled to be involved from the start. He’ll be riding a BMC, just like I did (and do!), wearing the same yellow jersey I wore, and actually riding on stage every night... how cool is that? I love cycling, and I'm deeply honored that an Australian artist has been inspired to bring my story to life for audiences worldwide. I hope you enjoy CADEL, and I encourage you to support Connor and his creative journey in giving the show a long life. See you there!”– Cadel Evans
Theatre
I AM – A Walking Universe
From the creator of Most Memorable Show (Lustrum Award Winner, 2023). Part of the modular series I AM. Enter the studio of LULA.XYZ, where words come to life. As she attempts to pen the next chapter to her namesake character, the girl next door who just happens to be Eritrean/Ethiopian, life intervenes. It’s the black woman curse. A poetic reflection of overt medical racism happening now in the UK, using wearable technology MiMu gloves (as used by Imogen Heap). Neither a musical, nor drama: a new kind of storytelling.
Theatre
I AM – One of many, many of One
Winner of the Most Memorable Show, Lustrum Award 2023. Part of the modular series I AM. A first-generation immigrant straddles her Habesha (Eritrean/Ethiopian) heritage and British identity only to realise, when you leave everything behind for the promise of something better, it’s not "better". A poetic reflection on memory loss, displacement, tradition and survival, interwoven with language, customs, music and wearable tech MiMu gloves (as used by Imogen Heap). Neither a musical, nor drama: a new kind of storytelling. Outstanding Performance nominee Filipa Bragança Award, 2023.
Theatre
I Dream in Colour
Sophie has a choice: surgically remove her one remaining eye containing a tumour, or risk eye cancer. Again. No brainer, right? But her parents have done everything to save this one eye in the hope she might see again. Can she do what she wants this time? ‘I Dream In Colour’ is a semi-autobiographical one-woman show from Jasmine Thien; a fully blind writer, poet and comedian. It explores how we experience the intersections between disability, race, gender when we straddle the margins of multiple minority groups. Weaving storytelling, comedy and spoken word, it seeks to ask the question: how do we navigate a world that reminds us every day we should not even exist? Shortlisted for the Charlie Hartill Award 2025. Written & Performed by Jasmine Thien Directed by Max Percy (Baklâ) Produced by The Project People
