Edinburgh Fringe Review 19th August 2026

Nikolai Phalen begins by asking the audience what they would do after an orgy, a suitably provocative question that sets the tone for much of the hour.

Phalen is an engaging raconteur with some strong jokes, although they did not all land with the audience at this performance. The response was mixed throughout, but comedy is subjective, and some of the quieter spectators may simply not have been prepared for the show’s sexually explicit stories. The description offers fair warning: this is certainly not a show for prudes.

Drawing freely on his eventful life, Phalen talks about his adoption and that of his sister, who joined the family only a few months later. From there, he leads us through juvenile trouble, wild parties, orgies, sex work and online adult entertainment. His tales are candid, frequently outrageous and often entertaining.

The title draws on a question posed by French theorist Jean Baudrillard in his writing about consumer society and capitalism. Phalen introduces some of these political ideas near the beginning of the show and returns to them towards the end, alongside material about violence that appeared to divide the room further.

For me, the connection between Phalen’s personal stories and his critique of capitalism remains underexplored. Sharpening those sections and weaving them more firmly through the narrative would give the show a stronger sense of cohesion. As it stands, however, the political material occupies only a small part of the hour.

Phalen’s storytelling kept me interested throughout, even when individual jokes did not quite land. What Are You Doing After the Orgy? is an enjoyable and promising hour from an engaging performer, but its political ideas need further development before the show feels completely cohesive.

Show	What Are You Doing After The Orgy?
Dates & Times	19-28 August 2026 at 2.35pm
Venue	Room 2 at PBH’s Free Fringe @ Carbon
Production Company	Nikolai Phalen / PBH’s Free Fringe
Ticket Link	Edinburgh Fringe