Edinburgh Fringe Hit Eat the Rich (but maybe not me mates x) Heads to London, Liverpool and Bristol
The acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe solo show explores class, ambition and survival as it transfers to Soho Theatre before touring Liverpool and Bristol.
After a critically acclaimed debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Eat the Rich (but maybe not me mates x) is set for a major UK run, beginning with a London transfer to Soho Theatre this January, followed by dates in Liverpool and Bristol later in the spring.
Written and performed by Jade Franks, a former President of the Cambridge Footlights, the solo show has earned multiple five-star reviews and been described by The Times as “the new Fleabag”. It has also picked up significant accolades, including the Filipa Bragança Award for Best Solo Performance by a Female or Non-Binary Artist and the Holden Street Theatres Award, which brings with it an invitation to perform in Adelaide, Australia.
The play follows a bright, working-class Liverpudlian student who secures a coveted place at Cambridge University. To survive financially, she secretly takes a job as a cleaner, risking everything if discovered. Inspired by Franks’ own experiences, the story unfolds as a sharp and often funny exploration of class, privilege and the myth of meritocracy, as the protagonist navigates a double life shaped by ambition, shame and survival.
Photos by Holly Revell
Produced by JFR Productions, the team behind For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy and Blue Mist, the show blends biting social commentary with a coming-of-age narrative. Directed by Tatenda Shamiso, it combines the satirical edge of Chewing Gum with the emotional intelligence of Sex Education and Big Boys.
Speaking about the upcoming tour, Jade Franks said that returning to Liverpool feels especially meaningful, having previously been supported by the Everyman while on its playwrights programme. She also noted the team’s excitement about bringing the show to Bristol, where there is a strong creative relationship with director Tatenda Shamiso.
The production has been developed with support from Boundless Theatre, the Royal Court, Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse, The Unity Theatre and Seven Dials Playhouse. In line with the themes of accessibility and inequality explored in the show, the creative team has also set aside a number of heavily discounted tickets.
Eat the Rich (but maybe not me mates x) plays at Soho Theatre Upstairs from 12 to 31 January 2026, before transferring to Liverpool Everyman from 16 to 18 April, and Bristol Old Vic from 28 April to 2 May.
Elena Leo is the Culture & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.
