Adam Riches: The Captain at Summerhall Review
Adam Riches' 2024 show, Jimmy (about tennis legend Jimmy Connors) sold out its entire run. This year, he returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with a new sell-out show. The Captain tells the true story of Captain Matthew Webb, the first man to swim the English Channel.
The Anatomy Theatre at Summerhall is a very suitable venue, there’s a blackboard to the rear of the stage area that will be used for key dates and diagrams, and a gurney that appears to have a figure on it, covered by a sheet. The story will be told by Fred Beckwith (Riches), the man who coached Webb for his seemingly impossible feat of endurance.
The script and Riches’ performance are a masterclass in storytelling. He immediately breaks the fourth wall with the audience, asking us to name the four swimming strokes. We’re then invited to join him in moving through each stroke from our seats – a great way to get the energy up in this relatively early time slot, and to fully engage with the audience. There’s a palpable desire to impress our speaker/teacher as the room is filled with a rhythmic chorus of “Stroke, Breathe, Kick, Gliiiide …”
Riches is a very talented comedian, whose shows always have plenty of audience participation – he’s completely at home getting close to the audience, making eye contact and delivering lines in a very conversational style. It isn’t remotely intimidating and makes his performance all the more engaging.
This is a story of endurance, dedication, athleticism and the fleeting nature of fame. It doesn’t judge or preach, and injects plenty of humour into the story of this largely forgotten swimmer. It’s ultimately a very sad tale – showing how Webb initially wants to complete his swim for the achievement rather than in search of money or fame but how he then went on to take on other challenges – leading up to 23rd July 1883 – the one date that was chalked on the blackboard at the start of the play – and his story’s ending.
The writing is exceptional – Riches will often repeat a line to drill his point home, again without it ever feeling like a lecture. There are some sharp observations on the fickleness of fame that show nothing has really changed since Webb and Beckwith’s brush with celebrity. The dialogue is very natural, building up the bond between swimmer and coach so that you don’t think of one without the other and there are some very poignant moments that highlight this closeness and as the play reaches its emotional conclusion, Riches communicates Beckwith’s feelings with a quiet dignity that is far more impactful than any impassioned speech.
The Captain is a brilliant story of a real life hero who achieved the impossible, beautifully written and performed. Easily one of the best pieces of theatre I have seen at the Edinburgh Fringe. The whole run has deservedly sold out but please follow Captain Matthew Webb’s example and persevere in contacting Summerhall for any returns – this is a must see show.
Adam Riches: The Captain is at Summerhall until 31st August 2026.
★★★★★
Written by Penny for Theatre and Tonic, August 2026.