Review: Exposure Therapy, Fringe 2025

Exposure Therapy, the show by Nicole Nadler, comes with a bit of a reputation. The buzz around the show, before even setting foot into the Greenside venue, was all about controversy. It had, after all, made the local news for the most unusual of reasons: audience members walking out mid-show.

This is the show’s reputation, and for me, it immediately raised questions about what exactly the audience was being exposed to, and whether I was ready for it. Was it a mental health challenge, a shocking performance, or something else entirely?

The genius of this show is the concept. Nadler asks the audience to write a fear, a truth/dare, or a birthday on a Post-it note. These anonymous notes are then put into a tub, and Nadler gets audience members to fish one out, and then she deals with them head-on. The audience and fate direct the show, and Nadler responds. She responds with courage and vulnerability. She’ll read a diary entry from her teenage years, or hold her breath for as long as she can, or answer a question about why she abandoned her life in America for Edinburgh. It’s raw, authentic, and completely unscripted. It’s an opportunity to see a performer truly think on their feet, and it’s exhilarating.

The Truth of it All

There is a sense of genuine connection in the room. The audience becomes part of the show, not just in the selection of the notes, but in their shared experience. There was a lot of bonding with people who had the same birthday or were from the same parts of America as Nadler. It’s a spontaneous connection that you don’t find in a regular show. And the show is deeply personal for Nadler. She gives the audience a little bit of her life beforehand, particularly her time in a religious camp in America, and that makes the candid answers she gives all the more powerful.

She is frank, honest, and completely open to whatever the audience throws at her. This is not the typical Fringe show I’d go to. It’s not a perfectly polished routine. It’s a live and ever-changing performance that relies entirely on Nadler’s ability to be witty, honest, and brave. On her own admission, she can ramble a bit, and some of the responses could have been shorter, but that’s part of the charm of the show. It feels real. It feels like a conversation, not a performance. Her answers were honest and entertaining, and it felt like a real conversation, not just a performance.

Overall

Exposure Therapy is a completely different show every single night, and that’s its strength. While some may find it a bit too unpolished or personal for their taste, those who stay for the duration are rewarded with an unforgettable experience. Nadler is a creator who loves to do something different each time, so this may be the only opportunity to see this particular show. This show is not for everyone, and that’s okay. But if you are ready to be surprised and challenged, and if you are ready to see a raw and authentic performer at the height of her craft, then this is the show for you. Miss it at your peril. Watch it at your peril.