LORENZO (NHB Modern Plays)

When Ben Targét was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2012 Edinburgh Comedy Awards, he was set on the path to becoming a critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning performance artist. Eight years later, amidst a global pandemic, he gave it all up to become the live-in carer for his uncle: an irascible octogenarian prankster called Lorenzo Wong. LORENZO is their story, a show that confronts the messiness of ageing and dying through the medium of storytelling, servitude to the audience and live carpentry, a combination not seen on the world stage since Nazareth circa 30AD. This book is the full script of that life-affirming show, with illustrations by Targét himself. It was directed by Adam Brace, and was premiered at Summerhall, Edinburgh, during the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it was awarded a Fringe First. It subsequently transferred to Soho Theatre, London. 'A beautiful and wise work' - Time Out 'Very lovely... a joyful and philosophical show... a heartfelt hour about tough times and the people who quietly help us survive them' - Guardian 'An exploration of the sorts of things that give life meaning... completely engaging... very funny and very moving... a life-affirming tale that is warm and whimsical, but fundamentally all about human connection' - WhatsOnStage 'A moving and courageous piece of theatre' - The Scotsman 'The ultimate celebration of life. I've never laughed and cried so much at the same show' - Everything Theatre 'A joyous celebration of what it means to love deeply' - Fest Mag 'A deeply affecting, tender and funny story of love and loss' - The List

Ben Targét is a performance artist and award-winning comedian. His solo show LORENZO was premiered at the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, winning a Fringe First award before transferring to Soho Theatre, London. He won the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year in 2011, and was nominated for the Fosters Comedy Award newcomer prize.