When I sat down at Summerhall this afternoon, I had no intention of writing this review. As a shadowing venue tech, I was there to observe experienced technicians, and learn more about technical staging. I had the pleasure of sitting in on some great shows, but by the end of this one, I knew I couldn’t leave without asking if I could write about it.
I don’t want to tell you too much about Man Sings. I want to rave about it ‘til the cows come home, but I genuinely think I would be doing the show a disservice by explaining almost anything that happens. This is a show best experienced with absolutely no idea what’s coming next.
What I will tell you is how it made me feel.
Every single moment of this show surprised me. What I expected from the title and what I got out of it are two wildly different things. Connor Dariol, known better as his stage name Conk, is a silly guy who does some very silly things for an hour, but somehow this simple idea took me on a journey, and became one of the most joyful experience I’ve had, perhaps all year.
The premise is, of course, just the title. Conk does actually sing one song over and over for an hour. After about the second or third rendition of the song, I found myself wondering how on Earth this could possibly continue for another 47 minutes. Somewhere along the line though, I forgot about the time altogether. By halfway through, I genuinely wished it was longer.
This show had me laughing until I was in tears. Not metaphorical tears, but face red, stomach hurting, genuinely crying tears. And all of this was so delightfully achieved by one man singing the same song over and over and over.
It’s almost impossible to discuss the ways Conk manages to explore the song without giving away what makes this show special. One of the greatest pleasures is that every time I heard the exact same music begin again, I had absolutely no idea what was coming. I was repeatedly caught off guard, reduced to snorting, laughing through my teeth, and wondering what on Earth I had just witnessed.
Conk has an absolutely infectious energy, and a remarkable ability to connect with his audience throughout the show. He makes excellent use of the space around him, constantly engaging with the people watching, and turning simple interactions into moments of comedy that couldn’t be replicated in any other performance. The technical setup is not overcomplicated, primarily involving some bananas, two microphones, and a funny guy from Australia. It delivers far more than you might expect with these ingredients.
And perhaps that is the magic of Man Sings. It takes an idea that sounds like it should be unbearable almost immediately, and somehow turns it into an hour of escalating joy. It is silly, it is ridiculous, and it is completely committed to its own absurdity.
There is simply nothing I could recommend more than this show. Conk is a man with range I cannot even comprehend, and not a second of this hour feels wasted. Even when I knew I would inevitably have the song stuck in my head for the rest of the evening, I didn’t care.
Every time I think about my experience of Man Sings, I can’t prevent a smile from appearing on my face. A truly gifted performer, doing exactly what performers should do: making people laugh, and making sure they remember it.
Man Sings The Same Song Over And Over Again For An Hour is playing at Summerhall in the Main Hall at 3pm on 22, 28, & 29 August 2026 and in the Red Lecture Theatre at 7:45pm from 22-31 August 2026 (except 24). The rest of the run is currently sold out, but keep an eye out for last minute tickets, and check in with the box office – this is not a show you want to miss.
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