Review: Bloody Influencers, Fringe 2025

Ena Begovic’s award-winning one-woman show is a high-octane tragedy-comedy that delivers far more than its title suggests, offering a cautionary and sympathetic look behind the social media filter.

Bloody Influencers, the critically acclaimed solo show from creator and performer Ena Begovic, arrives at the Edinburgh Fringe with a Best of Brighton Fringe Award already to its name. Born in Croatia, Begovic has channelled the experience of an immigrant artist into a sharp, witty, and ultimately moving piece of theatre. The show charts the dizzying rise and catastrophic fall of an Instagram influencer, exploring the toxic relationships and immense pressure that fester behind a picture-perfect online life.

The Influencer We Love to Hate

It’s entirely possible that many people will book a ticket for Bloody Influencers, having skimmed the title and decided they’ll be watching a show that sympathises with their dislike, distrust, or general eye-rolling at the profession. The title itself seems to echo a phrase muttered in frustration in cafes and tourist spots the world over: “bloody influencers,” getting in the way with a camera over their food or lording over a venue in a disruptive fashion.

To begin with, the play leans into this prejudice. Our protagonist, who adopts the name Daisy Woolworth because “it tested well on British and American audiences,” seems to be the perfect caricature. She achieves her initial notoriety by throwing her sister under the bus, figuratively speaking, and proceeds to milk her fame for all it’s worth. She is the influencer you expect to dislike, a product of algorithms and audience appetites.

The Mood

Just as you settle in for a straightforward takedown, however, the play reveals its true depth. The performance from Ena Begovic is fantastic to watch. She miraculously transforms into Daisy, taking the audience through the wild delights of the highs and the collapsed, tearful moments of the fall. But the story doesn’t stop there.

Begovic masterfully peels back the layers of her character. We see the curated Instagram face of Daisy Woolworth, but we are also granted access to the turmoil behind the camera. We get raw insights into her anxieties and how badly she is coping with her relationships and other life pressures. It is a testament to Begovic’s acting that Daisy, despite all her problems and questionable choices, becomes a character who wins the audience’s sympathy. She certainly won mine, and that of those sitting around me.

Hers is a redemption story of sorts. It’s not a neat narrative of rise, fall, and rise again, and everything certainly doesn’t end perfectly. Instead, it’s a story with a powerful message about the universal pressure to lead a picture-perfect life and the pain of being judged solely by what people see on the surface.

Overall

I wasn’t certain what to expect from Bloody Influencers. I knew it was more than a simple comedy or an attack piece on influencers, but I was still unprepared for what I got: an engaging 50 minutes of sharp social commentary, wisdom, and genuine heart. This is a recommended show that will make you think twice before your next eye-roll.