The blurb promises vampires, loneliness and “probably blood (not the film)”, and an evening in a railway arch with a drink in hand suits that sort of bill nicely. Scott Manley Hadley, who performs as SOLID BALD, is a poet-turned-comedian. His poetry was Highly Commended in the Forward Prizes, and his blog has been quoted in the New Yorker. A recent run of work-in-progress shows around Brighton and Edinburgh has taken in mental health, hair loss, and parenting, with songs and costume changes along the way. That background shows. The writing has a poet’s ear, and the delivery has a performer who has put in the hours.

The first thing to say is that Hadley is a seriously good musician. The songs are tight, his voice is strong, and the showmanship is far beyond what you would expect from a show still under construction. Even when the material was uneven, I never doubted I was watching someone in control of the room. The best stretches were the ones where the show has clearly been worked and reworked. Hadley’s lonely, ageing, too-hungry vampire is a funny creation, and the jokes about failing to achieve anything through an excess of driving hunger landed hard. There was real warmth to the sadness underneath, and the audience was with them throughout.

Being a work in progress, some of the seventeen songs are further along than others. I felt that too many numbers leaned on too similar loneliness notes, and the stronger songs showed what the rest could become with sharper writing. My main suggestion is to widen the vampire lore, as it stands, the show is mostly about the hunger for blood and feeling lonely. There is plenty more to play with: garlic and wooden stakes could be pushed well beyond the obvious gags, and silver and holy water have barely been touched. The vampire hunters are the obvious gap. A song for Van Helsing, Buffy and Supernatural would give the lonely vampire some proper adversaries, and it would add variety across seventeen songs.

The talent is plainly there, and the sections that are most developed are very enjoyable. When the whole show reaches that standard, together with just a tad bit more variety in the songs and the lore, this will be a joy for most audiences, especially those in a light mood and a couple of drinks in. I would happily go again to hear it grow.

You can catch Scott Manley Hadley again at the Lambeth Fringe Festival in Martin Corrigan: Holding Court (WIP) & The Big Bald Book Club on the 8th October 10pm at the Lower Marsh Arts Club. Book your tickets here – https://lambethfringe.com/events/martin-corrigan-holds-court

Reviewer: Mary Lee Wallin

Reviewed: 3rd October 2026