"Help! I'm Trapped in a One-Woman Show"
Alone in the world—as only a widow can be—Skinner’s one-woman show is a humorous and moving journey through love, loss, and the surreal world of online dating at 70. In a landscape where “Man 67 seeks woman under 30,” her stories are wickedly funny, sharply insightful, and deeply poignant. Throughout, the presence of her late husband, Ron McLarty—American actor, playwright, and novelist—remains a guiding light.
Sandra Jennings Guskin, Playwright and Acting Coach/NYC
I will call you later to talk but just know you were brilliant and the show is fall down funny and poignant and gut wrenching and fall down laughing my ass off. Bravos. Kudos.
IN THE NEWS
Broadway and television star Kate Skinner brings a deeply personal and hilariously poignant solo show to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025. Help! I’m Trapped In A One-Woman Show, co-written with Mark Hampton, explores the unexpected twists of online dating at 70, following the loss of a life partner.
Skinner’s decades of stage and screen experience shine through in this moving piece, which blends humour and heartache with sharp insight. Directed by Michael Edwards, the show promises to resonate with audiences of all ages.
Performing at 10 Dome, Pleasance Dome from 14–25 August at 13:25pm. Tickets available here.
You’re starring in Help! I’m Trapped In A One-Woman Show at Pleasance Dome – what can you tell us about the show?
It is an exploration of what it is to try to restart your life after losing your partner in love and all that that entails—the good, the bad, the ugly—and the hilarious.
The show explores themes of love, loss, and online dating at 70 – how did your own experiences shape the storytelling?
Every story in this show is based on events and experiences I had—it’s 100% true to my own adventures and misadventures.
My writer, Mark Hampton, and I wanted it to be completely authentic while viewing the events with humour and compassion (hopefully).
You’ve worked extensively across Broadway, television, and film – how does performing at the Edinburgh Fringe compare?
Doing a solo show is brand new for me and honestly something I never thought of doing, so I am definitely out of my comfort zone!
And the Fringe is a place I was hoping someday to participate in, but I always thought it would be in a production I was involved with that got invited. Everyone says it is magical to be at the Fringe—someone told me there is fairy dust in the air!
What was it like collaborating with Mark Hampton on this piece, and how did the creative process evolve?
Mark and I had a long process of talking for hours on the phone, Zoom sessions, a week of intensive work in person at my house upstate New York, as well as me sending him voice memos of my dating experiences, which he would then transcribe and make stage-worthy. When we got a first draft we liked, we did numerous sessions with the director, Michael Edwards, on the script. After our first public reading, we all convened and the second draft was born. After the performances at Bridge Street Theatre, we also did some rewrites based on what we had learned from that experience.
The show touches on grief and resilience with humour – how do you balance those emotional tones on stage?
I think we were very aware of trying to seamlessly move from the humour to the more emotional sections. That happened gradually as I worked on it alone and found the places where it flowed—and where it didn’t, we would examine and rewrite.
It is a delicate balance, and it was crucial that the script itself support me in moving from one moment to the next.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see Help! I’m Trapped In A One-Woman Show?
I have been constantly and happily surprised by how many people find my very personal story relatable.
The humour and the emotions seem to strike a very deep chord in people, and I hope that continues to be true at the Fringe!
Name of show: HELP! I’M TRAPPED IN A ONE WOMAN SHOW!
Name of artist/company: Kate Skinner/Alchemist Theatre Company
Name of person/s who answered the questions: Kate Skinner
What can you tell me in your words about your show?
It is an exploration of what it is to try to restart your life after losing your partner in love and all that that entails—the good, the bad & the ugly—and the hilarious.
Where did the inspiration for this piece come from?
I found myself telling my misadventures of starting to online date at 70 to my friends who all, to a person, found them hilarious (even if I didn’t!) and they encouraged me to “do something” with them but I didn’t know what until I had a dinner party and one of the guests asked each guest, “Where do you see yourself next year?” and out of my mouth popped, “I am going to take my one woman show to the Edinburgh Fringe.” I didn’t have a one woman show to take so then I had to get cracking!
How have you approached developing the show?
I have worked with a writer who I have also known for over 40 years. Luckily we have a similar sense of humour and also share the experience of losing a beloved partner. We had a close collaboration that involved long late night phone conversations, zoom sessions, an intense week long in-person session. We then did a public reading, a slot in a SoloFest at a theatre upstate New York, and a presentation in New York City. All of which taught us an enormous amount about what the show was and what it should be.
How would you describe the style of the show?
True life storytelling
Can you describe the show in 3 words?
Hilarious, Insightful, Heart-wrenching
How do you mentally and physically prepare for a run like the Fringe?
I have been a professional actor for over 45 years and each show has its own requirements. It has been a real learning experience for me to understand what doing a solo show truly requires as I have never done one before. Vastly different than doing a lead role in Shakespeare or an episode for Netflix.
Away from your show, what are you most looking forward to about being in Edinburgh?
Of course seeing a wide variety of other artists doing their “thing” and exploring the city of Edinburgh as much as my schedule permits.
Are there any other shows at the Fringe you’d like to recommend?
Jeremy Stockwell is doing a show about Alan Watts which I am very much looking forward to.
What was the first piece of theatre you saw which had a big impact on you?
2 shows I have seen that are burned in my brain are Giorgio Strehler’s LA TEMPESTA and a production of EDWARD II in Vienna at the BurgTheatre also THROUGH THE LEAVES by Franz Xaver Kroetz. at the Public Theatre.
What do you hope an audience member takes away from seeing the show?
Laughter of course and the recognition that no one is exempt from the trials of life and we must face them with courage, resilience and humour.
Where and when can people see your show?
My show is playing at the Dome in the Pleasance venues August 14-25 every day at 13:25pm.
Edinburgh Fringe Preview: Help! I’m Trapped In A One-Woman Show at 10 Dome at Pleasance Dome
Help! I’m Trapped In A One Woman Show Image supplied by publicist
10 Dome at Pleasance Dome
14 – 25 August
13:25
Age Guidance: 16+
Broadway and television star Kate Skinner is set to star in Help! I’m Trapped In A One-Woman Show, written by Mark Hampton with Skinner, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025. The production will run at 10 Dome in Pleasance Dome from 14–25 August at 13:25.
Alone in the world—as only a widow can be—Skinner’s one-woman show is a humorous and moving journey through love, loss, and the surreal world of online dating at 70. In a landscape where “Man 67 seeks woman under 30,” her stories are wickedly funny, sharply insightful, and deeply poignant. Throughout, the presence of her late husband, Ron McLarty—American actor, playwright, and novelist—remains a guiding light.
Kate Skinner’s extensive career spans over 100 plays, numerous television appearances, and voiceover work. Her Broadway credits include Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Graduate, and Uncle Vanya. On screen, she has appeared in The Watcher (Netflix), Law & Order (NBC), and Unforgettable (CBS).
Speaking about the show, Skinner shared: “Several years after my beloved husband died I began to dip my toe into the world of online dating and began sharing my stories from the front lines of the dating world at age 70. My friends found these stories hilarious even though the situations I endured often were not remotely funny. They encouraged me to make them into a play and so I asked my old friend, Mark Hampton to write something with me. And mercifully he agreed and we embarked on the journey of creating a new piece without knowing exactly what it might be. And it blossomed into something we hope touches people in addition to making them laugh. Life continues to surprise even at 70!”
Mark Hampton added: “Kate wanted to do a one-person show about a particular part of her life. I had created several solo pieces before and it left me searching for a support group for writers who shared the experience. ‘Hello, I’m Mark and I write one-person shows.’ Saying it out loud is the first step to recovery. I ‘picked up’ again initially out of friendship. But more importantly, it was to be a piece about the loss of a life partner and rebooting a life. An experience we shared. From very different vantage points, but loss is loss. I got to talk about it through her and she got to talk about it through me, and we both love to talk and we make each other laugh. I believe very strongly that our ability to find humour in any situation is the reason we’re both still standing.”
Kate Skinner Will Lead HELP! I’M TRAPPED IN A ONE-WOMAN SHOW at Edinburgh Fringe
The one-woman show will run at 10 Dome in Pleasance Dome from 14th to 25th August at 13:25pm.
By: Stephi WildMay. 07, 2025
Broadway and television star Kate Skinner has been announced to star in Help! I’m Trapped In A One-Woman Show, written by Mark Hampton with Skinner, at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025. The one-woman show will run at 10 Dome in Pleasance Dome from 14th to 25th August at 13:25pm.