Pleasance Courtyard – Beneath | 12–25 August 2025 | 17:00
🎟️ Tickets from £10.00 | Duration: 60 mins | Age Guidance: 16+
Written and performed by Dr Benji Waterhouse
✨ Introduction
Psychiatrist, comedian, and best-selling author Dr Benji Waterhouse brings his unique blend of stand-up and storytelling to the Edinburgh Fringe with Maddening—a deeply personal, darkly funny, and beautifully written show that explores the realities of working in the NHS mental health system.
🧠 The Concept
Maddening is part comedy, part memoir, and part social commentary. Drawing from his time working on a psychiatric ward, Benji shares stories that are both hilarious and heartbreaking, painting a vivid picture of the challenges faced by patients and professionals alike.
What sets this show apart is its compassion. Benji never uses his patients as punchlines—instead, he honours their dignity, weaving their experiences into the narrative with sensitivity and respect. It’s a show that balances humour with humanity, and satire with sincerity.
🎤 Performance Highlights
Benji’s delivery is warm, witty, and endearing. His stage presence is understated but magnetic, drawing the audience in with clever observations and dry humour. The show is well-paced and thoughtfully structured, building toward a touching and powerful conclusion.
His ability to tackle difficult topics—mental illness, systemic failure, personal burnout—with grace and humour is remarkable. The comedy is dark, but never cruel. It’s honest, insightful, and often laugh-out-loud funny.
🏥 Themes & Impact
Maddening shines a light on the stark realities of mental healthcare in the UK. It’s a sobering look at an overstretched system, but it’s also a celebration of resilience, empathy, and the human spirit. Benji’s stories are not just entertaining—they’re important.
The show leaves you thinking, feeling, and wanting to be a little kinder. It’s a reminder that behind every diagnosis is a person, and behind every professional is someone trying to make a difference.
🎉 Final Thoughts
Benji Waterhouse: Maddening is a Fringe gem—funny, moving, and deeply insightful. It’s a show that makes you laugh, makes you think, and stays with you long after you leave the theatre. For anyone interested in mental health, storytelling, or simply great comedy, this is a must-see.
written by Suzzi Hirst
SuzzisSpotlight 
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