“The life story of Audrey Hepburn,” read the subheading on the cover of the show’s programme. What, all of it? In an hour? How very Edinburgh Fringe. At the performance I attended, I must have been younger than almost everyone else in the audience by at least twenty-five years: these were people who very much remember the life and times of Hepburn. But thankfully for yours truly, no prior memories were needed at all to follow what was happening. A show-and-tell story, there was something uniquely British about Helen Anker’s style of storytelling, playing the part of Audrey Hepburn, looking back on her life. She wasn’t being boring, was she? Just checking. And her apologies if anyone was.
This, of course, takes a bit more suspension of disbelief than usual – though thankfully, there aren’t any ridiculous references to mobile telephony or more contemporary identifiers to add to the smidge of absurdity. Once you get over the apparent divine resurrection of Hepburn, the end result is a detailed and engaging account of both her personal and professional lives.
The actual details have been well documented elsewhere, but it was nonetheless a delight to see some iconic Hepburn movie moments recreated on stage. Anker’s own previous experience in musical theatre served this show well when it came to singing tunes Hepburn recorded for the big screen, and overall, this was a carefully crafted hour of storytelling, embellished with just about the right amount of set and props.
Review by Chris Omaweng
The Essence of Audrey is an honest and beautiful exploration of the reality behind Audrey Hepburn’s seemingly idyllic life. Looking back over the moments which made her the star we know of today, Helen Anker deftly portrays this modest actress and UNICEF Ambassador in a funny and moving depiction of her rise to fame and time in the spotlight. Through her character, Anker shares her successes and failures, her triumphs and disappointments, confronting anxieties and fears and finding the truth she has never been able to voice before.
Written and performed by Helen Anker
Directed by Michael Vivian
THE ESSENCE OF AUDREY
Pleasance Courtyard at the Edinburgh Fringe
31 July to 25 August 2025
