As part of the 2026 Philadelphia Fringe Festival, John Heimbuch returns to perform Charlie Bethel’s one-person epic version of GILGAMESH— the oldest story in the world!

GILGAMESH is modernized re-telling of the ancient Sumerian epic about the adventures of King Gilgamesh, including his friendship with a hairy wildman Enkidu, their fight against Humbaba, the vengeful goddess Ishtar, the battle with the Bull of Heaven, the tale of the Great Flood, and Gilgamesh’s quest for immortality!

Performer John Heimbuch is a playwright, director, and actor. He is the Artistic Director of Walking Shadow Theatre Company in Minneapolis. His plays William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow have been published by Samuel French and produced all over the world. He has been touring Charlie Bethel’s Beowulf and Gilgamesh since 2019.

Warning: Gilgamesh contains descriptions of monster-fighting violence and sacred sexuality, and is best appreciated by audiences aged 14 years or older.