“Keep your pretty head, son, or you’ll lose it.”
Hollywood, the 1940s.
A charismatic but notorious film director auditions a young actor for a horror movie whose
lead has died under mysterious circumstances. He then proceeds to lift the veil on
exploitation, broken promises, sex, cults, and other dark practices that go on behind the
screen – not to mention what may have happened to his former star.
There’s a fine line between artifice and fact. And when that line is blurred, nightmares can
come true.
Presented by award-winning theatre-maker Polis Loizou as a reenactment of recently-
uncovered audition footage by film director Laszlo Parker, ‘You Oughta Be In Pictures’ is a
tale that aims to chill the blood while sowing the seeds of doubt.
This unsettling one-man show about the seedy side of Old Hollywood, and what filmmaking
can teach us about engaging critically with the media we consume, has already thrilled
audiences in Edinburgh, Brighton, Buxton and Manchester.
WINNER: Best Actor (Buxton Fringe Awards, 2026)
NOMINEE: Best Production (Buxton Fringe Awards, 2026)
NOMINEE: Best New Writing (Buxton Fringe Awards, 2026)
★★★★ “Loizou’s performance is powerful, chilling and pitch perfect” – Rialto Arts
★★★★ “A disquieting patchwork of realities” – The Wee Review
“Loizou is an intense and gripping performer, expressive and scary” – Brighton Source
“A show of so many dimensions. Loizou’s performance is exemplary” – Buxton Fringe
Review
Polis Loizou is also the author of queer folk-horror novella “A Good Year”. This is his
fourth appearance at GrimFest. Find out more about him and his work at
polisloizou.com.
Ticket Information
Performance Dates: Wednesday 21st & Thursday 22nd October
Performance Time: 7pm
Run Time: 60 mins
Tickets: £13 (includes booking fee)