Traumedy: A Guide To Being A Fabulous Homeless Addict is a true story about life through addiction to sobriety. From being young and dumb on the Glasgow gay scene, through homelessness on the streets of Barcelona, to being committed to a psych ward and then landing in recovery. It is a tragic yet hilarious true story about overcoming demons and finding the real meaning of what it takes to be happy.

August 8, 2025    Ed Fringe Review

Upon walking into a sparsely filled basement of an Irish Pub (thanks to the Oasis gig), I did not expect the show I was about to enjoy.

Iain Anderson tells the tale of how he lived before pursuing comedy. Beginning in a small, Scottish town, Anderson tells stories of his addict parents and grandma whilst growing up in the 90s. The show has audiences laughing throughout. One of my favourite gags being that of a wartime grandparent who deems any struggle insignificant in comparison to fearing the Nazis. Whether it is feeling like an edgy teenager or above the small town that you are raised in, Anderson covers it all.

Anderson remains engaged with the audience and is nothing short of quick when reading the room. The focus of the show then moves to Anderson’s time sleeping on the streets of Barcelona whilst experiencing both alcohol and drug addiction. Whilst addressing the seriousness of addiction in a comical yet sensitive manor is not a skill mastered by all, Anderson has cracked the code.

From lying about having a white collar job with an annoying colleague Carol to humanising the characters that shaped his life, Anderson is relatable. The show addresses a multitude of issues and it would be very easy to make an entire set based on each section. Therefore, it felt as if one hour was not enough. It is clear that Anderson has lots of stories to tell, and I’m sure that audiences would appreciate more of these in increased depth and detail. This is especially true when it comes to the various characters that Anderson explains to audiences, from his partner to the people he met whilst homeless. It feels like there is much more beneath the surface when it comes to meeting so many new faces after moving country.

Overall, the show is full of laughs, hilarious memories and touching personal anecdotes, and I will be watching to see what Anderson does in the future. Click Here For Review

May 24, 2025   Fion Brown's blog

REVIEW of Traumedy at GICF

It’s been said that one of the best ways to combat stigma is through open conversation. With his one man show, Traumedy: A Guide to Being a Fabulous Homeless Addict, Iain Anderson showed that the critical acclaim he has received thus far has been well-earned.

Not only is he the king of the homeless and a self-taught psychologist, Iain Anderson is crucially the charmingly quick-witted fix that the standup scene is missing. While Barcelona may have claimed him now, the Port Glasgow native was clearly at home on Sunday 23 March when he took to the stage in Bath Street’s The Griffin. From learning the unspoken etiquette of gay saunas to surviving attempts on his own life, the 40-year-old comic fused his observational prowess and innate storytelling ability to create an hour-long set full of hearty laughs and deep reflection. Click Here For Article