Review: The Poetical Life of Philomena McGuinness, Fringe 2026

Written by Josh King and performed by Jasmin Gleeson, The Poetical Life of Philomena McGuinness is a sharp, moving 50-minute solo play from Edinburgh’s Moon Rabbit Theatre. Staged at Theatre 3 inside theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall on Nicolson Street, the production follows a young Irish woman who moves to London in 1939 to begin nursing training just as the Second World War breaks out.

While her posting places her on hospital wards confronting the reality of wartime trauma, Philomena insists she is, first and foremost, a poet, despite having yet to write a single line of verse. Gleeson commands the compact performance space with poise, turning what could be an overwhelmingly heavy historical premise into an intimate, absorbing character study.

Finding Poetry in the Chaos of War

Moon Rabbit Theatre specialises in historical one-woman plays, and King’s script plays to that niche with precision. As the Blitz hits London and Philomena is sent to treat battlefield wounds, the narrative avoids melodramatic despair. Instead, Philomena meets every challenge with grounded wit, practical Irish wisdom, and a taste for whisky, which she treats with the caution of a wild animal.

The production balances the grim reality of wartime Britain with Philomena’s core belief that human beings are always more than just their jobs or what others see them do. Gleeson ensures the audience stays gripped throughout, moving easily between the dry humour of hospital life and the emotional weight of historical sacrifice.

An Intimate Performance of Great Scale

Staged in the close-quarters setting of Theatre 3, the show thrives on subtlety. Every raised eyebrow, shift in posture, and spoken reflection carries weight, making a story of global conflict feel intensely personal. Gleeson ensures that Philomena feels real from the opening moments, presenting a character who remains rooted in the present rather than collapsing under the weight of an uncertain future.

The writing allows Gleeson to deliver big storytelling through small, devastating gestures. It captures the multitude and magnitude of ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances, keeping the audience completely invested in Philomena’s journey from start to finish.

Overall

The Poetical Life of Philomena McGuinness is a standout piece of small, independent Fringe theatre. Jasmin Gleeson delivers a compelling, tender performance that honours real wartime history while celebrating the stubborn, poetical spirit of those who lived through it.