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Boys are shaped by the men around them. So what makes a man? It's Y2K and a teenage boy has been caught between two very different influences: a volatile father and a gentle Windrush-era grandfather. But when he's uprooted to a working-class Northern town, he quickly learns the rules: who the hard lads are, what to say on MSN Messenger and how to be a "proper" lad. Blending vivid storytelling with sharp humour, this nostalgia-drenched autobiographical show explores boyhood, masculinity and the moments young boys must decide what kind of men they will become.
This is an archived listing from the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. They're Just Small Town (Northern) Lads is by Nathan Jonathan, listed under Theatre in the Fringe programme. It plays at Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, EH9 1PL, 6 August to 16 August.
The show runs 60 minutes and is suitable for ages 16+. Tickets from £10. Content warnings: Distressing or triggering themes and Strong language.