In a groundbreaking moment for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, theatre creators Linus Karp and Joseph Martin of Awkward Productions said “I do” on Saturday, August 16, in front of a captivated audience at The Pleasance Grand. This extraordinary occasion marked the first ever ticketed wedding on stage at the festival, which has been running for 78 years, and the very first LGBTQ+ couple to marry as part of the official program.
The ceremony was a delightful mix of camp and heartfelt authenticity, perfectly suited to a couple known for their cult hits like Gwyneth Goes Skiing and Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story. The stylish duo, outfitted by Edinburgh designer Cosimo Damiano Angiulli, made memorable entrances: Joseph to Charli XCX’s “Von Dutch” and Linus being carried on stage to the iconic “Jellicle Cats.”
Led by Jackie Blackburn of the Edinburgh City Council, the proceedings were whimsically chaotic. Sooz Kempner treated the couple to a performance of “2 Become 1,” while the best man delivered a dramatic reading of “Party in the USA.” Adding a humorous twist, fellow Fringe group Recent Cutbacks presented the rings in a lighthearted parody of Lord of the Rings. The ceremony culminated when Blackburn declared them “husband and husband,” igniting a standing ovation from the 750 attendees.
Following the wedding, the newlyweds invited the audience to join them for celebratory drinks before debuting their latest Fringe production, The Fit Prince. This playful and chaotic fairytale rom-com has already garnered enthusiastic reviews, being called a “camp masterpiece” and “their best show yet.” This on-stage wedding was not only a personal landmark for Karp and Martin; it also celebrated the vibrant, boundary-pushing spirit of queer creativity that characterizes the Edinburgh Fringe.
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