A Fool in School

Fringe 2026

A Fool in School

A Fool in School follows comedian Efthimios, on the eve of his keynote speech at UBC's Tedx talk. This inspiring and hilarious odyssey takes us on his path, from two time dropout to an Honours in Philosophy and what he learned over a generation of rejecting and reconciling values and traditions from his Greek immigrant heritage. A Fool in School, takes us on a philosophical, personal and existential journey, that resonates with students, young and old, as they explore their own identity, and asks "what treasures can we uncover from our collective past, that our traumas, failures and experiences prevent us from exploring?" Using humour, humility and empathy, Efthimios delivers his unique ability as storyteller, blending anecdotes, characters and philosophy to dive into the wisdom shared by those that came before. From his parents, to Nietzsche, to a Turkish sailor, or an Indian sage, Efthimios captures the nuance and wisdom of a dozen unique voices. You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll think, as we examine what connects us and separates us as humans.

Plain Language Description

A Fool in School is a story about a middle aged man, who returns to university after years of struggling and dropping out twice. As Efthimios prepares a keynote speech at a prestigious Tedx talk for alumni students at UBC, he examines what made him reject all the things he grew up being taught from his Greek immigrant parents and the school system, and how he came to see their own struggles and journeys, that gave him such a unique opportunity. Using different characters and hilarious storytelling, Efthimios touches on the valuable lessons we learn when we are young, that often take a generation to appreciate and understand.