God is Dead and I Killed Him, Pleasance Courtyard Review
Written by Eloise Thody (Instagram: @eloise.thody) for Theatre and Tonic
An intriguing title, right? And it does not disappoint. Callum Patrick Hughes is back for his third consecutive show at the Fringe, after winning awards including the Meryvn Stutter Pick of the Fringe in 2023 for his debut solo show ‘Thirst’ and selling out multiple times for his 2024 show ‘How Can I Help You?’
‘God is Dead and I Killed Him’ delivers everything you want from a Fringe show. Picture this – Pleasance Courtyard Bunker 2, an exposed brick wall, fifty-six people bought into the world of Callum Patrick Hughes, standing on stage alone with a guitar.
Hughes holds the audience in the palm of his hand and leads them through the story of his relationship with God, armed with sensitivity, humour, and a guitar. You may be thinking that an autobiographical story at the Fringe has the risk of feeling self-indulgent and trauma dumpy. Hughes is starkly aware of this, making jibes throughout which keep the story honest, connected, and far from falling into self-indulgence.
Callum may be a witch, he explains to us, having been informed by his witchy granny as a child. But Callum doesn’t believe in ghosts, or astrology – despite being a Leo… The show is underscored by Callum on guitar, breaking into song to illustrate the story even more vividly. A master storyteller, with a beautiful voice and incredible musical ability, the audience holds onto his every word, desperate for the next twist, or laugh.
What is done so well is that ‘God is Dead and I Killed Him’ perfectly fits the space being performed in. The exposed brick wall of Pleasance Courtyard Bunker 2 pairs wonderfully with the exposure and vulnerability presented on stage, encouraging the audience to strip back their own thoughts and join Callum in his laughter and his pain.
There are moments of real human connection throughout the show, which make you want to stay in the bunker and listen to Hughes’ stories forever. It is beautiful – and dare I say it, the witchy talent which Callum’s grandmother said he inherited, is alive in these moments – reaching out and connecting with the audience.
Callum Patrick Hughes glows on stage, and he brings us all right into that glow. If you’re going to see something this Fringe – allow yourself to be bathed in this light at 13.45pm at Pleasance Courtyard Bunker 2 (1 Hour) running until 25th August 2025.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
