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Manipulate Festival: Don Quixote (is a Very Big Book)

In his new one-man show, Dik Downey (Green Ginger, Pickled Image, Opposable Thumb) weaves together the crazed delusions of Don Quixote with his own struggle against reality.

Manipulate Festival: Don Quixote (is a Very Big Book)

About Manipulate Festival: Don Quixote (is a Very Big Book)

7th Feb 2026 to 8th Feb 2026
6.15pm
Traverse Theatre
10 Cambridge Street, Edinburgh West EH1 2ED
Support Manipulate Festival £22 / Standard £18 / Concession £14
Event organiser/part of Manipulate Festival
Visit the event website here

With a rogue’s gallery of puppets and desperate clowning, Dik’s Quixote embarks on surreal, comic misadventures, accompanied by his wisecracking sidekick, Sancho Panza, and his decrepit horse, Rocinante.

While Dik fights to make his retelling of this huge novel joyous to a contemporary audience, we see something else – Dik’s refusal to yield to the passing of time. As Quixote chases his impossible dreams of glory, Dik faces his own dwindling relevance and his mortality.

This international co-production from the company that made Coulrophobia, a “truly fabulous showcase of clowning and puppetry skills” (Total Theatre), blends laugh-out-loud moments with mad reflections on the joys and indignities of growing old and fighting against the inevitable.

Don Quixote (is a Very Big Book) is part of the Traverse's £1 Ticket Project.

Age 14+

Photo credit: Andre Pattenden

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