Edinburgh Fringe comedy review

As an economist who has spent his career modelling climate change scenarios, Dr Matt Winning knows more about the catastrophic consequences of carbon emissions than most. So he'd be forgiven if his whole show on the topic was merely him in the foetal position, rocking backwards and forwards and wailing in despair at the folly of mankind.

Instead, Solastalgia – the title means an existential distress caused by adverse environmental change – is a charming narrative hour that makes no bones about impending doom, but only as a backdrop to a sweeter family story.

Winning admits to being uncertain whether this is theatre – the section of the Fringe programme where he placed it last year – comedy or storytelling. It’s almost certainly that last one, but ‘spoken word’ can be the commercial kiss of death, so it’s understandable that a personable communicator with a background in stand-up has opted to class it as comedy now.

Money took on greater significance for Winning when he fulfilled his dream and became a father four years ago. The big day did not go as planned, resulting in him spending crucial time between two petrol stations – an anecdotal convenience that allows him to fill us in on the histories of Esso and BP.

The birth of his son prompted Winning to consider more carefully how to provide for his family given academia’s modest salaries. When he was offered a deal with the devil, it prompted a battle of morals versus pragmatism – especially as the comic does not want to end up like his father, who refused to take retirement.

Along the way, the earnest but self-aware Winning eloquently fills us in on details of how John D. Rockefeller became the world’s first billionaire through ruthless exploitation of oil, and some glimmers of hope as to how we as a planet might be able to wean ourselves off fossil fuel – although Donald Trump has, of course, torpedoed some of the best chances we had.

Despite the efforts of the proudly ignorant president, Winning still strikes a note of hope, albeit a highly cautious one, lest we leave in utter despair. He’s far too smart and agreeable an operator to let that happen. 

Review date: 26 Aug 2026
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: Assembly George Square