This Review is from August 2025

Ian Smith returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with Foot Spa Half Empty, another hour of shouting into the wind about everything he’s stressed about – big or small. Only this time the wind answers back.

Ian’s lived in London now, for as long as he has in the North of England, but he is trying to keep hold of his Northern identity.

This is a show about failure, failure to fit in, failure to relax. From cryotherapy and cow-hugging, to competitive speed jigsaw events, the harder he tries to de-stress, the worse he fails.

This sell out crowd at the Monkey Barrel ate up Ian Smith’s every word. A stressful life is rarely this entertaining.