Landlord hate fuels disgraceful Edinburgh Fringe play
Private landlords will find little to laugh about in a so-called comedy entitled ‘How to Kill Your Landlord’ which will be performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this month.
The sick theatre play, which claims to be a mix of “Crime and Punishment meets Home Alone” will supposedly show the difficulties of renting.
Obviously, from the point of view of tenants and not the put-upon landlord.
Contempt for chauvinistic landlord Archie
The show’s premise follows three young flatmates: Burke, a former student activist who claims to be living hand to mouth, Harriet, a freelance yoga instructor; and Joq, a cryptocurrency enthusiast.
They are described as “polar opposites, but all united in their contempt for chauvinistic landlord Archie.”
According to the play, Archie has decided to evict them, though the synopsis fails to explain the reason behind the eviction.
It then bizarrely claims: “Taking a lead from Crime and Punishment, the trio put dark plans into motion,” describing the outcome as unfolding “with hilarious and deadly consequences”.
Fundamentally antagonistic relationship.
Speaking to Everything Theatre podcast creator of the show Harry Conway, says the play was inspired by his experience of renting in London.
In the interview, Mr Conway described landlords as exploitative, claiming: “What’s so interesting about renting and dealing with a landlord, and I don’t think this is appreciated enough, but it is a fundamentally antagonistic relationship.
“You want to pay as little as possible for as much as possible and landlords want to extract all from you whilst doing as little as possible on their side.”
Not condoning violence towards landlords
He adds in a pitch to see his show: “For a renter, this is vital information. This is going to be a revolutionary workshop disguised as a theatre comedy.”
He then bizarrely claims: “If you’re of the property landed class, you need to be on your best defence, you need to know what is being plotted out there, so it appeals to both sides of the aisle and fundamentally, we are putting on a funny comedy about a contentious issue.”
The presenter of the Everything Theatre podcast adds as a caveat at the end of the interview, saying: “In this era of cancel culture, we are not condoning killing or violence towards landlords.”
The ‘show’ will run until the 25th of August at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Comments
Have Your Say
Every day, landlords who want to influence policy and share real-world experience add their voice here. Your perspective helps keep the debate balanced.
Not a member yet? Join In Seconds
Login with
Member Since May 2024 - Comments: 204
3:20 AM, 2nd August 2025, About 8 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 01/08/2025 – 11:22
They can laugh at us all they want, I’ve finally had enough and am going to start selling off houses when the tenant leaves.
My rents are too low, so will to start increasing to market rate to get them to leave.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3237 - Articles: 81
5:36 AM, 2nd August 2025, About 8 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Desert Rat at 02/08/2025 – 03:20
This is what Govt don’t get. Be nice to know official truthful figures, but if Landlords are buying, they certainly aren’t housing the sort of people we have housed in the past. Those with less income, UC Benefit etc.
Member Since May 2021 - Comments: 5
9:11 AM, 2nd August 2025, About 8 months ago
Hey, chill.
We all enjoyed watching Rising Damp.
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1435 - Articles: 1
9:17 AM, 2nd August 2025, About 8 months ago
Reply to the comment left by dismayed landlord at 01/08/2025 – 10:48
My daughter wanted nothing to do with being a landlord, another reason for selling up.
Member Since March 2024 - Comments: 281
9:19 AM, 2nd August 2025, About 8 months ago
The play writer is fundamentally wrong in his assertion.
You could argue that buying a second hand car involved the same polar opposite approach between buyer and seller. But whatever vehicle, there is a broad ‘market value’ based on specification, mileage and condition and protections in law from a seller selling a knowingly stolen or defective vehicle .
Unless the seller is an out and out criminal and the buyer is too dumb to understand that anything priced ridiculously below a normal market price shouldn’t be touched with a barge pole, the actual relationship between the two parties will be a subtle negotiation at the margin and in the vast majority of cases each side will understand and have respect for the position of the other.
In car sales terms, this guy is a tyre kicker who probably wouldn’t even turn up to view. And any landlord giving him the keys needs to be a lot more proactive in their selection process.
Member Since December 2015 - Comments: 292
10:15 AM, 2nd August 2025, About 8 months ago
Reply to the comment left by LythamLee at 02/08/2025 – 09:11
Yes we did – us of a certain age !
Times have changed and I do not recall the demonisation of landlords all those years ago being quite so full on.
I note today that some artists have complained about the cost of presenting their art in Edinburgh being prohibitive. One having declared sleeping in her car so she can afford to stay and appear.
I guess that’s the real world.
Member Since October 2023 - Comments: 201
11:36 AM, 2nd August 2025, About 8 months ago
The left hate landlords, in part due to the writings of Marx.
He was an intensely lazy man, who got his rich benefactor (Engles) to pay his rent.
When Engles finally got sick of paying his rent (after about 8 years!) the landlord moved in and evicted Marx.
So Marx wrote about how the parasitical landlordism created a propertyless proletariat.
Now the government takes the place of Engles, and supports the lazy, who resent those with property.
Socialism, in other words.
Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1575
8:19 AM, 4th August 2025, About 8 months ago
This should be reported to the Police as hate crime.
Member Since December 2015 - Comments: 292
8:47 AM, 4th August 2025, About 8 months ago
We are landlords. It will therefore be a civil matter. Unless some one gets killed. Other than a landlord! 🤣🤣