Tom Toal – on the Scrapheap

Tom Toal promises a performance of heartbreak, loss … and then some triumph, and he is true to his word.
Experiencing the world as a singleton for the first time in his adult life, following a break up with his childhood sweetheart, Tom gives the audience an honest reflection on finding himself on the ‘scrapheap’.
Thus follows an emotional rollercoaster of a show as Tom rebuilds his life onstage through the means of a karaoke machine, song lyrics and tales of lads holidays, blind dates and love letters to beautiful celebrities.
His self-depreciative humour makes Tom Toal an endearing chap to watch and keeps the audience captive in his tales for the duration of his performance… even though at points his awkward comedic fashion can stumble more to the side of awkward than of comedy.
Despite this, Tom Toal delivers a promising performance which will hit home with anyone who gone through a break up and come out the other side a few bad karaoke songs and disastrous dates later. The grand finale-style ending is a real highlight of the performance and Toal’s ease of interacting with the audience is a true talent.
A promising debut performance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and no doubt a talent we will see more of in the future.

4/5

Libby Pollock