BAD BOY to Make Edinburgh Festival Fringe Debut
Daniel Adolfsson's solo show will play Underbelly Cowgate, blending live original music with dark comedy.
Nerve Creations and Daniel Adolfsson will present the UK premiere of Bad Boy, a solo comedy featuring live original music about the damage of chasing the dream. Performances will run at Underbelly Cowgate, Belly Laugh, 5 – 30 Aug 2026.
Blending dark humour and emotional depth, Bad Boy follows struggling musician Jack as his life begins to unravel over a series of days while preparing for a career-defining record label audition. Partly inspired by writer and performer Daniel Adolfsson's own experiences, Jack moves between friends, bar gigs, and dates, holding on to the idea that success will fix everything. He clings to the image of who he should be, but long-avoided truths start to catch up with him. Stuck in a rut after moving to a new city for his now ex-girlfriend – and then lumbered with her dog – the one thing he does have is music, the one place he feels safe enough to face himself and to mourn his lost dreams. Performing a blend of blues, folk, and pop original music, a more vulnerable and truthful side to Jack emerges as he explores self-loathing, shame and how many times can we make a mistake before we learn.
Writer, director and performer Daniel Adolfsson said, “I was interested in what happens when you stay with someone you don't immediately like. Jack makes choices that are frustrating, but he's also convinced he's right.
He's got more than he realises, but he keeps looking for something else. I didn't really try to fix him; I was interested in why he keeps ending up in the same place.”
Co-founder of Nerve Creations, Daniel Adolfsson is a Swedish playwright, director and performer working across theatre, film and music. His work moves between text-based and physical performance, often with musical elements and a strong sense of immediacy. His directing credits include The Father (2025) and Rabbit Hole (2024) at Teater Trixter. As an actor, he has appeared in major television productions, including The Bridge. As a playwright, Adolfsson is supported by the Swedish Arts Grants Committee and the Swedish Authors' Fund, including a 10-year working grant (2025–2035) and the Swedish Institute Paris Fellowship (2025). Bad Boy marks his and Nerve Creations' Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut.
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