Edinburgh Fringe 2026
Judas Exclusive
Will McDowell and Mooj Productions
Genre: New Writing, Theatre
Venue: Zoo Southside
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
With his reputation in tatters Judas Iscariot has decided to come on Judea’s fading late night talk show, Simona Tonight to set the record straight. Simona clearly not struggling with the amount of alcohol she takes, talks through with Judas and then Peter who makes a cameo appearance later on, the whole story behind Judas’ infamous treachery. There is a hint at the end that Judas is not just there to talk about his plight…
Review
This is quite the irreverent look at a revered moment in Christian history. MOOJ Productions has thrown a lot of production at this to make it work and it was worth it.
Will McDowell has written a fascinating peek at what might have happened in our age if these two major figures in Christian theology had done the chat show circuit.
It has been directed with some skill though I think some of the transitions and set changes could do with being tidier. Having them more integrated would help, as they feel a little chaotic.
It’s a decent script, available to purchase, but needs a redraft to increase some of the interaction between the two major characters. Peter simply repeating the word pussy to get a reaction from Judas only works once, maybe twice . It would be good to dig a lot deeper.
Some of the contemporary references, Judas having a medical condition where he cannot sweat being one, works well, but might age a little badly.
The final kiss delivered by Judas to Simona is part of the layered imagery that works well.
Performances of the newsreaders and Simona were a contrast with Peter and Judas. Peter trying to be more enigmatic but failing, whilst Judas with aspects of danger underpinning, keeps the narrative, tone and pace measured.
Technically costume is great, the soundscape provides that kitsch feel, and the choreography for Simona blows a trumpet at 1970s talk shows. It feels just the wrong side of desperate – perfect.
Judas Exclusive is fun but has a serious overlay of being a very serious piece of theatre. What brings laughs is the comedy, but a nod to the point of puncturing pomposity would have given it another angle.
