Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen

By Marcelo Dos Santos
Francesca Moody Productions and Kater Gordon in association with Dianne Roberts and Bush Theatre
Final weeks

Now in its final weeks, don’t miss the first London run of Marcelo Dos Santos’ sensational new play.

Fresh from sweeping critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe – winning both a Scotsman Fringe First and The Stage Edinburgh Award – Samuel Barnett reprises his starring role in the ★★★★★ laugh-out-loud exploration of intimacy, anxiety and ego.

 

“I’m 36, I’m a comedian, and I’m about to kill my boyfriend…”

After years of swiping, a permanently single, professionally neurotic stand-up finally meets Mr Right – and then does everything wrong.

Strap in for a delightfully dark journey through self-awareness and self-sabotage as he decides whether love is worth the price of a killer punchline.

Feeling Afraid… is the “razor sharp” (Scotsman) hit play written by Marcelo Dos Santos (Backstairs Billy) from the producers of the Olivier award-winning Baby Reindeer and the international smash-hit Fleabag, directed by Olivier award-winning Matthew Xia.

★★★★★ ‘Faultless execution is matched only by this audience’s thunderous, cathartic, cry-laughing response.’ FEST
★★★★★ ‘A masterclass in comic delivery’ WhatsOnStage
★★★★★ ‘The gag-count is ridiculously high’ Telegraph

Looking for show information and content guidance?
Feeling Afraid… Self-Care Guide and Content Warnings

We are proud to be partnering with METRO on our production of Feeling Afraid…. METRO is an equality, diversity and inclusion services charity that runs health, community and youth services across London and the South East, which started as the Greenwich Lesbian and Gay Centre in 1984. metrocharity.org.uk
This is a past event

Photo & video

Associate Director
Stage Manager on Book
Associate Producer
Lighting Designer
Producer
Production Manager
Set and Costume Designer
Co-Producer
Writer
Director
Sound Designer

Cast

Samuel Barnett
Samuel is an Olivier and two-time Tony nominated actor. He is currently in preparations to revive his role in the London transfer of Feeling Afraid As if Something Terrible Is Going To Happen at the Bush Theatre. This one man play, written by Marcelo Dos Santos was a critically acclaimed and award winning hit at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In 2022 Samuel starred opposite Ralph Fiennes in Straight Line Crazy, directed by Nicholas Hytner at the Bridge Theatre. On screen he filmed the role of Cecil Beaton in the feature film Lee, opposite Kate Winslet due for release this December. Sam will also star in upcoming comedy film And Mrs alongside Harriet Walter and Aisling Bea. In 2016 Samuel starred in the title role of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency for BBC America opposite Elijah Wood. The show, created by Max Landis, was inspired by the novel of the same name by Douglas Adams and ran for two seasons. Samuel received his second Tony nomination in 2014 for his portrayal of Viola in Twelfth Night on Broadway, directed by Tim Carroll. His first Tony nomination was for the original production of Alan Bennett’s acclaimed History Boys, for which he also won the Drama Desk Award and was nominated for an Olivier Award. In 2006 he was nominated for Most Promising Newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards for the film adaptation. Other screen credits include The Lady in the Van, Jupiter Ascending, The Amazing Mr Blunden (Sky), Penny Dreadful (Showtime), Twenty Twelve (BBC) and Beautiful People (BBC).

@bushtheatre

Bush Green

Conversations, dispatches and ideas from the Bush Theatre.

Go to BushGreen
BUSHCYLING: How we’re improving our sustainability, one stage set at a time

When you watch a new show at the Bush, you’re seeing a brand new set every time… or are you?  Putting on a production can use a lot of resources: from energy for lights to purchasing costumes and furniture to the timber needed to build sets and scenery, so we try to reuse materials as…

“I keep coming back to sex and death – but, you know, in a fun way.” Meet Marcelo Dos Santos

With a day to go until Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen bursts onto our stage, we caught up with writer Marcelo Dos Santos to get the inside scoop on his inspirations for the play and how it feels to, as he says, “put it all out there”. “I’m inspired by…

Writer and star of Elephant | Meet Anoushka Lucas

Opening this October, Olivier Award nominee Anoushka Lucas returns to the Bush Theatre with a brand new production of her debut play, Elephant. Here is everything you need to know about the incredibly talented writer and performer behind the production.  She never planned to be an actor… or a playwright. Anoushka is a multi-talented artist:…