Midnight Express rides into Edinburgh

CULTURE / THEATRE

First he wrote the best-selling book, then came the Oscar winning movie. Now Billy Hayes recounts his riveting, epic journey of self-discovery, live on stage. It’s a cautionary, yet uplifting tale of desperation, determination and transformation.

In 1970 Billy Hayes was arrested at Istanbul Airport with two kilos of hashish taped to his body. Five years later, he made a brazen escape from prison, rowing 17 miles across a stormy sea in the dead of night.

The New York Times describes Billy Hayes’ one-man-show as a “sensational story” and CurtainUp.com as “Prime edge-of-the-seat stuff”. Having seen Riding the MidnightExpress when it was staged in London earlier this year we agree!

If you were riled by the film version and its massive anti-Turkish fallout, be sure to look in on this acclaimed show as it now rides into Edinburgh for the month-long Fringe Festival: hearing the author recount his Turkish adventures “is as cathartic for us Turks as it is for Billy Hayes”.

Show dates: Aug 11-14, 17-21.

Venue address:  Upstairs at Le Monde, 16 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PF

Start time & duration: 5pm, 1 hour & 10 minutes: no interval

Tickets: £16.50 (£13 concessions)

For tickets & info: Upstairs at Le Monde

Related stories: Billy Hayes puts therecord straight with Riding the Midnight Express, 13 April 2014