Edinburgh Fringe 2026
Charlie Mulliner: Love Hunt
Pierrot Productions
Genre: Comedy, Interactive, Solo Play
Venue: Jack Dome at Pleasance Dome
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
Robbed of a lifetime partnership she imagined with Rob, Amber begins her hunt for love with the help of a nun, a bootcamp trainer, a star, a game show host and everyone else sitting in the audience.
Review
At the beginning of the show, Mulliner, as Amber, panics because her boyfriend has broken up with her. We learn through this panic that Rob, her boyfriend, is a terrible partner and we hope someone as charming and innocent as Amber finds true love. The task is simple – help Amber find love again.
We’ve all either known an Amber or been Amber at some point in our lives. She’s too innocent for the world. Her need for acceptance is far greater than her self respect. And this is not asking for pity. Acceptance and belonging are big aspects of the human experience and when we lack them, they become our most urgent needs. Mulliner plays this mask of innocence with great charm and intelligence. On the spectrum of Joey and Auguste clowning archetypes, Mulliner’s Amber leans very close to Auguste, constantly misunderstanding the manipulation of the world which results in her becoming the victim in every situation.
Love Hunt has incredible writing. It’s clever, poetic, playful and very funny. The show incorporates hilarious videos as transitions between scenes that have the language of internet meme culture and it fits perfectly with the show’s themes. Mulliner is playing at the top of her intelligence both in performing and in writing which makes the show a breeze to watch. Even with all the meme references and the side characters that appear momentarily for some jokes, Mulliner manages to bring a depth that’s often missed in stories like these. Why do we not give ourselves the love we demand from others? Why is belonging such a big theme in the modern world?
Mulliner throws herself in the tumultuous journey of navigating a heartbreak, much to the audience’s pleasure. She’s so comfortable with her ridiculous vulnerability, that we can only laugh at the great tragedy. As the show finishes its run at the Edinburgh Fringe now, I wonder what else there is to discover in this show? Can Mulliner’s Amber find ways to change her attachment patterns? Can she find a sense of belonging in something other than a boyfriend’s love? The show opens up some wonderful avenues for Mulliner to explore going forward.
For any theatre-going person, Love Hunt checks all the boxes. It has a power-packed performance, impressive costume changes, witty lines, hilarious audience interactions and wonderful technical help. The show we watched was filled with people of different age groups and ethnicities. It was heartening to be in a diverse room where everyone was enjoying a piece about finding love. There’s probably a part within all of us that’s always seeking some form of true love.
