The Hunger Artist by Franz Kafka was performed at the  Edinburgh Fringe by Jonathan Sidgwick, a macabre first-class adaptation of the Kafta short story. One that makes you question how far an artist will go to give their best performance?

Placed in a cage centre stage, with only straw to sit on, Sidgwick is a mesmerising performer who is passionate about his role as the portrayed artist using his hunger and suffering as a form of entertainment.

Sidgwick explains how the performance affects his body and mind while in character. Especially when he is told by his boss to stop the performance after the forty day cut off and refuel the body until the next performance.

Every day at the Edinburgh Fringe is a school day, and I hadn’t heard of these “Hunger Artist” performances before. The idea of watching someone literally starving to the point of extinction seems barbaric to me, and I couldn’t watch someone starve. However, I can see that there was once an audience for these acts.

This particular artist in the travelling cage wants to be internationally acclaimed and admired by his once adoring audiences. As the art form begins to lose popularity, the artist realises that he has to push his “Hunger” art to a longer time frame and become weaker and thinner in an attempt to reclaim audiences.

Unfortunately, The Hunger Artist finished its run at the Edinburgh Fringe for 2026. However, should it return next year, I would highly recommend adding it to your watch list.

For more information about Tge Hunger Artist and other productions across the Edinburgh Fringe  please use the link below.

Five Stars.

Performed by Jonathan Sidgwick.

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-hunger-artist-by-franz-kafka