Jason Manford is one of the well-known comedians who have come out in support of an actor after she shared an emotional video in which she said that just one person saw her one-woman show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Following the poor attendance, actress and writer Georgie Grier uploaded an emotional image on X, formerly known as Twitter, with tears in her eyes.
‘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…?’ she captioned the post.
It has seen other people in the industry flock to share their words of encouragement as well as their own experiences of being met with small audiences, with Jason sharing a touching video.
‘It’s absolutely normal… for one person to rock up to your show, especially at the beginning of Edinburgh, and also for you to be a bit upset or annoyed or pi**ed off about it. That’s totally fine as well,’ he said in response.
‘I did Edinburgh in 2004-5 and I remember [the] first couple of shows, the first week I think, was just, it was such a slog and I was out in the rain and I was flyering and people weren’t coming.
‘I got total impostor syndrome. How much is this costing me? What am I doing here?
‘Look at all these amazing people. How embarrassing that… nobody’s turned up but, you know what, you’re on the path and it’s just the start, that’s all.’
Mock The Week host Dara O’Briain also commented on the post, saying: ‘Tomorrow will be better and next week will be better…so just enjoy yourself, if you can.
‘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!’
Members of the House of Lords Daniel Finkelstein and astronomer and TV broadcaster Mark Thompson were among those who responded to Grier.
Thompson said: ‘I’ve seen amazing shows with really poor audience numbers.
‘Just because there was just one audience member doesn’t mean your show isn’t awesome. believe in yourself but maybe it’s the poster/marketing?’
Lord Finkelstein added: ‘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.’
BBC Radio 1 host Dean McCullough also commented, writing: ‘Well done for doing the show regardless 🤍 you’ve got this and when there’s more people in the next time you’ll be glad you kept going x.’
Grier later thanked those offering their support and shared the details of her Edinburgh Fringe Festival show, Sunsets, which she described as ‘about rom coms but also family.’