Operation Blank
★★★★★ Hysterical
theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall: Fri 1 – Tue 12 August 2025
Review by Erin Frances Speirs
Operation Blank is a sharp, tightly written, and hysterical one-person show with top-tier performances from George Grant, exploring the existentialism of corporate life, and how we all hate Microsoft Teams.
Set at the start of a Microsoft Teams chat, projected onto the back wall, we are informed that a bomb has been dropped on Copenhagen. Junior, the only character on stage in front of us, is a Junior Minister – hence his rather obvious nickname – charged with facilitating how to respond.
George Grant in Operation Blank. Pic: supplied.
The Teams meeting is filled with the most important cabinet members in the UK. All white men, all played by George Grant and presented as piercing parodies of upper-class British politicians. Trying to get these men to focus on anything but their own priorities quickly begins to break Junior, and the piece starts to spin into a surreal existential drama – without leaving humour at the door.
Alongside political commentary on the inept nature of this group of men, the piece also explores hierarchy within professional life. Junior is commanded to stand for more than half of the meeting, forced to do push-ups, and is continually reprimanded by his ‘superiors’. These physical tolls being taken out on his body echo the exhaustion he feels stuck in this tedious Teams call, and his tedious life.
With heavy use of video call, the timely transitions and fast-moving pace of the piece are impressive. Grant performs against what can only be assumed is a blank computer screen with superb timing and impressive comedic chemistry with himself.
mile a minute
Jokes come at you a mile a minute, with constant visual gags on the projected Teams call. There is classic video call humour, when the is revealed to not be wearing any trousers to less obvious jokes about group chat names.
The Microsoft Teams call is always used to its full potential, with such strong character work that it is easy to forget this is a one-person show.
George Grant in Operation Blank. Pic: supplied.
Grant wrote this piece partly based on his own experience of corporate life before returning to the arts. This is evident in the emotional weight of Operation Blank’s final moments, where Junior is breaking apart, stuck between reality and a chaotic daydream and unable to think of any kind of future away from Microsoft Teams.
“Life ends when you stop trying”, Junior finally admits, and for the sake of a brilliant Fringe show, it’s good to know that Grant didn’t stop.
Operation Blank does not answer any of the questions it presents, nor does it explore with any depth the reasons behind why so many people feel stuck on a corporate treadmill, too exhausted from running to think about how to get off.
However, it hints at it for the audience, and perfectly encapsulates the existential dread of being on that treadmill with biting hilarity and charm. With humour stuffed into every second of the 45 minute run time, George Grant has plenty of opportunity to expand Operation Blank in both its length and critique.
Running time: 45 minutes (no interval)
theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, 63 Jeffrey Street, Edinburgh EH1 1DH (Venue 53).
Fri 1 – Tue 12 August 2025.
Daily: 6.15pm.
Tickets and details: Book here on EdFringe.com.
Running time: 45 minutes (no interval).
TheSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall (Flemming Theatre), Nicolson Street, EH8 9DW (Venue 53).
Fri 1 to Sat 9 August 2025.
Daily: 6.15pm.
Tickets and details: Book here on EdFringe.com.
Operation Blank transfers directly to the Camden Fringe
Hen & Chickens Theatre: Tue 12 – Fri 15 Aug 2025
Canal Cafe Theatre: Sun 17 – Wed 20 Aug 2025
Tickets and details: Book here.
George Grant website: www.ggwellplayed.co.uk/
Instagram: @itsgeorgegrant
TikTok: @itsgeorgegrant
Linktree: @bad.choices.inc
George Grant in Operation Blank. Pic: supplied.
ENDS
