Edgar A Poe’s Last Call
13 August 2026
Camden People’s Theatre
5.0 out of 5.0 stars
Edgar A. Poe’s Last Call, currently running at the Camden People’s Theatre as part of the Camden Fringe until 15 August, is an intimate exploration of Poe’s life, work, and mysterious death, told from the poet’s perspective with expert storytelling.
The evening begins in the bar, where a dishevelled Poe arrives suddenly, setting the scene for the audience before moving to the auditorium. What follows is a moody hour of poetry, storytelling, and melancholy reminiscence. The structure of the show is very well balanced, giving the feeling of a casual conversation that slowly goes off the rails.
With a darkened set that utilises lighting effects to create a gloomy and haunting atmosphere expertly, the show focuses on Poe’s words, presented in a monologue that looks back at his own life on the precipice of his death. The greatly underappreciated poet’s life is reviewed from earliest childhood to his very last breath, with several of his poems inserted for dramatic effect. The poetry is read with perfect cadence, summoning Poe’s eerie stories expertly and effortlessly.
This show is an absolute masterpiece of first person storytelling, a love letter to Poe, and a gorgeously haunting, deeply touching experience.
