Acts of Kindness at Edinburgh Fringe: A Quietly Powerful Docudrama on America’s Deepest Wounds
Sometimes theatre demands our full attention — not to distract or delight, but to witness. Acts of Kindness, brought to the Edinburgh Fringe by the University of Redlands’ Department of Theatre and Dance, is one such piece. It’s not playful, it’s not comfortable — and that’s precisely why it matters.
Written and directed by Gregory Ramos, Chair of the Department, this docudrama bravely explores the fault lines of gun violence and immigration in the United States. At its core is the 2019 mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, a horrific act of domestic terrorism that left twenty-three people dead and a community forever changed. With current deportations and the increasing political divide, its worth exploring the ongoing question of who belongs and who does not, and the responsibility of political leaders to ensure fairness and safety.
But Acts of Kindness is not a retelling of the tragedy alone. It’s a deeper reflection on who gets to belong, who is made to feel “other,” and how a community can stitch itself back together after being torn apart.
Based on interviews conducted in El Paso, this is theatre that listens before it speaks. It gives voice to those who lived through the unthinkable, and in doing so, asks us — wherever we’re from — what it means to live in a society where safety, compassion, and fairness should be universal, but so often are not.
The ensemble, made up of students and faculty including Lara Baden, Mila Ellis, Skylar Ellis, and others, deliver grounded and emotionally honest performances that allow the material to breathe. There’s no need for sensationalism here. The truth is heavy enough.
While Fringe is known for its irreverence, its energy, and its surprises, it’s also a space for vital stories. Acts of Kindness is just that — a vital, clear-eyed piece of documentary theatre with something to say about grief, resilience, and justice.
If you make time for just one serious work this Fringe, make it this one.
Show Details:
📍 theSpace @ Venue 45, 63 Jeffrey St, Edinburgh
🎟️ Tickets: £7.00 — Book here
🗓️ Dates & Times:
- Aug 1 – 20:00
- Aug 4 – 18:00
- Aug 5 – 12:00
- Aug 6 – 18:00
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