My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

TAP OUT! (OR I'LL HIT YOU AGAIN) to Make Edinburgh Fringe Debut

Matt Ackerman stars in Conor Dye's writing debut, a dark comedy exploring masculinity and loneliness.

By:
TAP OUT! (OR I'LL HIT YOU AGAIN) to Make Edinburgh Fringe Debut

TAP OUT! (OR I'LL HIT YOU AGAIN), the debut play by producer and director Conor Dye, will premiere at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The dark comedy follows an unnamed man who, struggling to articulate what is missing from his life, begins provoking fights with strangers. What starts as a private outlet for frustration evolves into a larger obsession as he gains attention through a viral video and becomes increasingly consumed by the pursuit of confrontation.

Starring Matt Ackerman (The Tenants Republic), the play explores loneliness, masculinity, violence, and mental health through a fast-paced narrative that examines the ways people seek connection when they are unable to communicate their needs directly.

As the protagonist's behavior escalates, the production considers the pressures of contemporary life and the growing difficulty of finding meaningful human connection in a digital world. Through a blend of comedy and drama, the play examines how isolation and emotional repression can manifest in destructive ways.

Dye said, “Tap Out! is a story about a man who wears a mask and starts fights in the street. He embarks upon this odyssey of bar brawls and alleyway assaults, trying to find that 'thing' that makes him feel alive. It's an absurd premise that crashes scarily into our own reality.”

He continued, “Very quickly, the wheels come off and you start to see how the cracks of poor mental health and an inability to share how you feel can have disastrous consequences.”

Best known as a producer and director, Dye's previous credits include JULIE: The Musical at The Other Palace and Tit Swingers at MTFest 2024. TAP OUT! (OR I'LL HIT YOU AGAIN) marks his debut as a playwright.

Combining dark humor with social commentary, the production explores contemporary conversations surrounding masculinity and emotional vulnerability, asking what happens when people are unable to find the words to ask for help.



Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Direction of a Musical - Top 3
1. Michael Arden - The Lost Boys
25.9% of votes
2. Michael Mayer - Chess
14% of votes
3. Lear deBessonet - Ragtime
12.4% of votes

Don't Miss a Scotland News Story
Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...


Videos


The Listies: 110% Ready in Scotland The Listies: 110% Ready
Assembly (Studio One) (8/05-8/16)
Glob in Scotland Glob
Underbelly (8/05-8/30)
Scotland vs England: The Comedy Show in Scotland Scotland vs England: The Comedy Show
Alhambra Theatre (6/05-6/05)
Disney''s Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert in Scotland Disney''s Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert
Usher Hall (12/03-12/03)
Venue Premium - Two Doors Down in Scotland Venue Premium - Two Doors Down
OVO Hydro (9/25-10/11)
Mark Thomas: 40 In Stand Up Years in Scotland Mark Thomas: 40 In Stand Up Years
The Stand 1 (9/23-9/23)
Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody! in Scotland Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody!
Gilded Balloon Patter House - Other Yin (8/05-8/30)
Long Way Home in Scotland Long Way Home
Gilded Balloon (Snug) (8/05-8/31)
Furniture Boys in Scotland Furniture Boys
Underbelly (Jersey) (8/05-8/30)
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Scotland Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Alhambra Theatre (10/07-10/10)