The Pigeon Factory at Underbelly Cowgate, Jelly Belly (Venue 61)

The Pigeon Factory is a darkly absurd one-man drama tracing the descent of an unhinged man named Walden into a delusion of 1950s suburban perfection, framing the domestic household as a factory assembly line staffed by pigeons. Walden hosts the audience as guests in his home, maintaining a perfect life with his mannequin wife Marianne and a brood of birds he keeps in boxes, surviving solely on their eggs. Blending high-energy physicality with voiceovers and video projections, the show is a surrealist ride set to a soundtrack of nostalgic Americana that unpicks traditional gender roles and the desperation of self-image under capitalism. Written and performed by Aaron O'Neill and directed by Dee Finn, the production is the UK premiere of the work and part of the 2026 Culture Ireland Edinburgh Showcase.