REVIEW: CRAZY DIAMOND at Barons Court Theatre 27 – 30 August 2026
‘Tony’s sadness is a bittersweet reminder that sometimes things don’t work out the way we want.’ ★★★★ ½
Tony Riley, guitar in hand, plays the opening chords of Pink Floyd’s Shine On You Crazy Diamond and tells us about the lives and deaths of Syd Barrett and poet Arthur Rimbaud. And just like all the other times I’ve heard those opening chords, I knew right away that I was in the right place.
Two Foolish Productions’ one-man show Crazy Diamond, part of Camden Fringe, is, above all, a love letter. To Syd Barrett, to Pink Floyd, to Arthur Rimbaud and to life itself.
Tony is 63. He’s a musician. Not a very successful one but a musician nonetheless. He did it for the art. And all he wanted in return was to be loved and admired, like his idols Syd Barrett and Arthur Rimbaud. He plays Pink Floyd tunes and recites Rimbaud’s poetry as he walks us through the life and career of these two geniuses, whose words, vision and influence have stayed with him all his life. And much like the ghosts of Syd Barrett and Arthur Rimbaud, the ghost of his friend Colly still haunts him…
As he wrestles with his own thoughts, he mourns the fact that life didn’t turn out the way he wanted. He didn’t become a successful musician, he didn’t influence a whole generation with his words. He just… played. Some listened. And he tried his best.
Chris Brannick’s performance is outstanding. Armed with his guitar, he delivers his soliloquy with grace, passion and sorrow. Tony’s sadness is a bittersweet reminder that sometimes things don’t work out the way we want. We feel for him because we are him. We have all been Tony. We all want to be loved and admired and be the voice of a generation. And we can be. Syd Barrett’s short-lived career and Arthur Rimbaud’s short life remind us of how impactful we can all be, regardless of how much time we have.
Written and performed by Chris Brannick
Barons Court Theatre, 27th – 30th August 2026
https://camdenfringe.com/events/crazy-diamond/
Photography: Peter Williams
