In our ongoing Edinburgh Fringe 2026 interview series, we are speaking to artists and creatives who are bringing their shows to the Scottish capital this summer.
In this interview, we speak with Eric Weiner about his show My Life Is A Sonnet.
What can you tell me about your show?
My show started as an exercise in Rob McCaskill’s NYC acting class: he has you pick a Shakespeare sonnet and invent a five-minute story that would lead you to speak such elevated language. I loved the exercise so much that after Covid I contacted Rob about developing an hourlong version. Using Sonnet #73, I came up with a story about a boy in prep school who takes a seminar on Shakespeare’s sonnets. He hates the poetry, but he falls madly in love with a girl in the class.
How would you describe the style of your show to anyone who has never seen you before?
I’m trying for as conversational and autobiographical a style as I can. Basically like a Moth story, but all made-up.
What was the lightbulb moment that led to the creation of this piece?
It’s taken me a looong time to realize how much I have created my own problems in life, that despite all the advantages I’ve been given, I’ve still played the victim, oh woe is me, I can’t get what I want. I was wallowing in one of these moments of self-pity when it occurred to me, wait a minute. What about now? What if I try to get what I want right now? This lightbulb had to go off many times as I kept faltering on the path, but it’s what started me developing this show.
What makes 2026 the perfect year for this specific story or performance?
Right now, with the rise of AI and with everyone promoting themselves on the internet, I think there’s a hunger for authentic interaction. For me, this starts with me being authentic with myself! I’ve been finding that if I can open up, the audience opens up along with me.
How will you mentally and physically prepare for a run at the Fringe?
I’ve never had the experience of doing a run of my show. That’s a big part of why I’m bringing it to the Fringe. I know it can be exhausting, but I’ve been finding that the day after I do my show, I’m eager to do it again. Here’s hoping I keep feeling that way!
If you couldn’t use a flyer to attract audiences, what ridiculous object would you hand out to people to get them into your show?
A toy kaleidoscope. I remember being awed as a child when I first looked through one and saw the patterns change. I’m not sure what this has to do with my show! Maybe it could be a very special kaleidoscope which, as you turn it, forms the words MY LIFE IS A SONNET, and SO IS YOURS.
What is the one item in your Fringe Survival Kit that you can’t live without at the Fringe?
I’ve been really blessed that my partner Natalie, who inspired this whole show in the first place, has been able to travel with me. And this summer my brother Jon, my sister-in-law Deb, my daughter Talia, my son-in-law Beni, and the superstar of them all, my granddaughter Serena, are all coming. So my answer is friends and family.
What would you deem as success at the end of the Fringe?
A lot of artists have told me they think of the Fringe as summer camp for adults. So I guess success would be I meet a lot of wonderful people and I don’t get poison ivy.
Other than your own show, are there any other shows you would recommend at the Fringe this year?
I saw PHILOSOPHY OF THE WORLD last year. It inspired me to bring my show to the Fringe. This year the troupe, IN BED WITH MY BROTHER, is doing a revival of their first show WE ARE IAN. I just got tickets.
What is one Edinburgh spot that you would recommend people to visit when they're not watching performances?
I loved visiting Leith. I had such a great meal at a pub called the King’s Wark. Even while I was eating I was thinking, “I want to come back and eat here again.”
Can you describe the show in 5 words?
A man finds true love.
What keeps you inspired?
The open-heartedness that some audience members have expressed after the show.
What would you hope someone takes away from seeing the show?
My show has a plug for therapy, which I’m a big believer in, but mainly I hope people feel inspired, as I am, to keep trying to live more richly. Can we live our lives as beautifully as a Shakespeare sonnet? Probably not. But it’s a good goal!
When and where can people see the show?
I’ll be performing the piece nightly at 20:20 at Space 2 at theSpace on the Mile. I hope to see you there!
My show started as an exercise in Rob McCaskill’s NYC acting class: he has you pick a Shakespeare sonnet and invent a five-minute story that would lead you to speak such elevated language. I loved the exercise so much that after Covid I contacted Rob about developing an hourlong version. Using Sonnet #73, I came up with a story about a boy in prep school who takes a seminar on Shakespeare’s sonnets. He hates the poetry, but he falls madly in love with a girl in the class.
How would you describe the style of your show to anyone who has never seen you before?
I’m trying for as conversational and autobiographical a style as I can. Basically like a Moth story, but all made-up.
What was the lightbulb moment that led to the creation of this piece?
It’s taken me a looong time to realize how much I have created my own problems in life, that despite all the advantages I’ve been given, I’ve still played the victim, oh woe is me, I can’t get what I want. I was wallowing in one of these moments of self-pity when it occurred to me, wait a minute. What about now? What if I try to get what I want right now? This lightbulb had to go off many times as I kept faltering on the path, but it’s what started me developing this show.
What makes 2026 the perfect year for this specific story or performance?
Right now, with the rise of AI and with everyone promoting themselves on the internet, I think there’s a hunger for authentic interaction. For me, this starts with me being authentic with myself! I’ve been finding that if I can open up, the audience opens up along with me.
How will you mentally and physically prepare for a run at the Fringe?
I’ve never had the experience of doing a run of my show. That’s a big part of why I’m bringing it to the Fringe. I know it can be exhausting, but I’ve been finding that the day after I do my show, I’m eager to do it again. Here’s hoping I keep feeling that way!
If you couldn’t use a flyer to attract audiences, what ridiculous object would you hand out to people to get them into your show?
A toy kaleidoscope. I remember being awed as a child when I first looked through one and saw the patterns change. I’m not sure what this has to do with my show! Maybe it could be a very special kaleidoscope which, as you turn it, forms the words MY LIFE IS A SONNET, and SO IS YOURS.
What is the one item in your Fringe Survival Kit that you can’t live without at the Fringe?
I’ve been really blessed that my partner Natalie, who inspired this whole show in the first place, has been able to travel with me. And this summer my brother Jon, my sister-in-law Deb, my daughter Talia, my son-in-law Beni, and the superstar of them all, my granddaughter Serena, are all coming. So my answer is friends and family.
What would you deem as success at the end of the Fringe?
A lot of artists have told me they think of the Fringe as summer camp for adults. So I guess success would be I meet a lot of wonderful people and I don’t get poison ivy.
Other than your own show, are there any other shows you would recommend at the Fringe this year?
I saw PHILOSOPHY OF THE WORLD last year. It inspired me to bring my show to the Fringe. This year the troupe, IN BED WITH MY BROTHER, is doing a revival of their first show WE ARE IAN. I just got tickets.
What is one Edinburgh spot that you would recommend people to visit when they're not watching performances?
I loved visiting Leith. I had such a great meal at a pub called the King’s Wark. Even while I was eating I was thinking, “I want to come back and eat here again.”
Can you describe the show in 5 words?
A man finds true love.
What keeps you inspired?
The open-heartedness that some audience members have expressed after the show.
What would you hope someone takes away from seeing the show?
My show has a plug for therapy, which I’m a big believer in, but mainly I hope people feel inspired, as I am, to keep trying to live more richly. Can we live our lives as beautifully as a Shakespeare sonnet? Probably not. But it’s a good goal!
When and where can people see the show?
I’ll be performing the piece nightly at 20:20 at Space 2 at theSpace on the Mile. I hope to see you there!
Tickets are available from https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/my-life-is-a-sonnet
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