A performer who had just one person attend her Edinburgh show prompted a full house of fabulous responses

John Plunkett. Updated August 4th, 2023

It’s not often you go on Twitter to feel uplifted and just a little bit more optimistic about the state we’re in than you did before. Never, in fact.

But that’s exactly what happened after actor and writer Georgie Grier turned to the social media site for a little bit of support after just one person turned up to watch her one-woman play at the Edinburgh festival fringe.

There was one person in my audience today when I performed my one woman play, ‘Sunsets’ at #edfringe. It’s fine, isn’t it? It’s fine…? 🥹 pic.twitter.com/D0lfAsMMz0

— Georgie Grier (@georgie_grier) August 3, 2023

And it’s fair to say she didn’t just get a little bit of support, she got a lot. An awful lot.

We’ve ALL done it. Soon, you’ll dine out on this anecdote. More than once I had to buy my audience a drink, as a thank you for being the only ones there. Best thing though, it’s all stage time, and the show will get better every single time, ready for the big crowds later!

— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) August 3, 2023

Years ago Bill Bailey and Sean Lock did an Edinburgh show called Rock. One performance had only one audience member. They went out to apologise for cancelling and it turned out to be a fellow comic who hadn't paid. He asked them to go ahead anyway. https://t.co/EJ9Hw3WVeR

— Mark Lamarr (@lamarr_mark) August 4, 2023

❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/PoWZYE78FV

— Jason Manford (@JasonManford) August 3, 2023

I was in a sketch group in 2004. Audiences were low, final night of the Fringe we played to 8 people. Horrible feeling. But one of them was @HenryNormalpoet who had lovely things to say to us. We went back dancing on air. You never know what’s round the corner. Hang in there. https://t.co/mOqdZPQkP9

— rufus jones (@rufusjones1) August 4, 2023

I went to Norwich to give a speech and it took me 4hrs of travel.There were only 2 people there. One of them was the person who invited me. I asked the other person to join the cause I was there to support. He said he would, but it might interfere with the terms of his parole.

— Daniel Finkelstein (@Dannythefink) August 3, 2023

I’m not In Edinburgh, but if I was, this would be the first show I’d be going to see just to cheer Georgie up and offer a fellow performer my support.
Go and see her, you lovely people. Who knows, it may well be the best show there! x https://t.co/ZlOoGWabW4

— Reece Dinsdale (@ReeceDinsd45561) August 3, 2023

I was invited to give a talk last year and I walked into a packed room – mega excited. It turns out that the talk before was overrunning by a few minutes, and when it was changeover time the entire audience left except for three people. Solidarity – and that was a free event!

— Simon Harris – Man Behaving Dadly (THAT’S DADLY) (@simonharris_mbd) August 3, 2023

it's awesome, you're awesome, and one day, that audience member will have an incredible story to tell that they got a private show from Georgie Grier. https://t.co/CNFrdbTuyS

— Laurie Kilmartin (@anylaurie16) August 3, 2023

That person is going to have a fantastic anecdote in a few years time when you’re constantly on the Telly

I once traveled for 6 hours to give a 90 minute talk to, what turned out to be, only 7 people. We all went to the pub after – it was nice actually. Keep going, keep growing

— Greg Jenner (@greg_jenner) August 3, 2023

10.

Yes, it's fine. In 2000 I did a show with Russell Brand and Mark Felgate. Russell dragged a few people off the street most nights. Once, we performed to just @BarryCastagnola. Omid Djalili was the only person in the ENTIRE run to actually buy a ticket. Hang in there xx https://t.co/DSqLKTI91o

— Shaparak Khorsandi شاپرک خرسندی (@ShappiKhorsandi) August 3, 2023

11.

We did Godspell with a cast of 30 once at the Edinburgh fringe and only 2 people turned up for one performance. We still did it and ended up getting those people on stage to dance and interact with. One of the greatest performances I ever did. Keep going and keep smiling!

— Tom Swift (@tommyswifty) August 3, 2023

12.

The fact you performed for this one person tells me you have what it takes to be very successful, congratulations 👏🙏 https://t.co/2DFbWTNElR

— Karl Howman (@karl1953howman) August 3, 2023

13.

That one person will remember the show for the rest of their lives, and when you're a household name, they'll be telling their friends "I saw her one woman show at #edfringe on my own"!

I'm sure your show is amazing.

Unrelated question but do you have a favourite cheese?

— Joe Bangles CBE (@JoeBangles11) August 3, 2023

Special shout out to this person.

I was that one person in the lovely @georgie_grier audience. We had a lovely hug at the end and she was so professional and brave and she gave me everything. You should be so proud angel! Thank YOU! Now go get em girl 💪 #edfringe @edfringe https://t.co/tzZs3CFhq7

— Sophie Craig (@itssophiecraig) August 4, 2023

But for our last response we go back to the man responsible for our first, the great @daraobriain.

If it doubles every day then by the end of the fringe you’ll be sold out. Good luck tomorrow.

— Simon (@simon3862) August 3, 2023

If it doubles every day Simon, by the end she’ll need a room that seats 134 Million people. Not sure Edinburgh has one of them.

— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) August 3, 2023

Bravo everybody!

Follow @georgie_grier on Twitter here and if you’re in Edinburgh, buy tickets here!

Thank you so much for your support today. For anyone asking about my #edfringe show, my one woman play is ‘Sunsets’. It’s about rom coms but also family. I’d love to have you there. I’m performing until the 27th at @Gildedballoon at 12.20pm. Thank you xx https://t.co/31fL7wGioc pic.twitter.com/2rxgsOF6Zk

— Georgie Grier (@georgie_grier) August 3, 2023

Source Twitter @georgie_grier