Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025

12.07.2023 - a date that was supposed to be my last encounter with this world of misery and dark shenanigans played by life on a "talking ape". Funny thing - I experienced the "outer body" experience - I had the presence of mind to write the farewell note and absorb the decadence of it all at the same time. Yet, after the note was done I couldn't really figure out where to go next …

“My goal is to talk to my "self" and tell it the story of insecurities and prejudices I had before my life turned to shambles. I tried so hard to spiral down into the abyss that I completely forgot to take a moment and live. It was finding myself staring down the abyss that I suddenly got reminded of all the idiotic happenings and circumstances that led me to this moment - inability to grieve properly for my father, first serious relationship that ended in a heartbreak, bad financial decisions made on the spur of the moment out of desperation, etc."

“Why I Stayed …? A Gothic Review of Life” is about a series of mishaps and attempts at getting help way too late. And then finding oneself at the precipice of a final decision thinking "why can't I ..." and realizing that I have been making a joke out of myself since day one! 

Aleksandr Popov is a Tallinn, Republic of Estonia based stand-up comedian, who also dabbles as a high-school teacher and college professor teaching “theory of argumentation”, “public international law” related topics of law of armed conflict, international organizations law and law of treaties. He is a columnist for and oldest newspaper in the land “Postimees”, a blogger, a podcaster and a founder, team leader, Chief Legal Officer & CEO of “Estonian Security Agency” LLC – a private security company specializing in close quarters security and ground control.

31st of July 2025 - 24th of August 2025 @ 22:25
Media tickets available
Running time: 60 minutes
Suitability: 18+
Venue: Just The Tonic at the Caves
Sub-venue: Just The Spare Room
The Rowantree, 253 Cowgate, EH1 1LG