This world premiere comedy play spotlights a pivotal moment in Scottish football history through the eyes of two great adversaries, as David Narey confronts his nemesis Jimmy Hill, the Englishman who notoriously described Narey’s glorious 1982 World Cup goal against Brazil as ‘a toe poke’ and who was the subject of abuse from Scottish fans for decades afterwards. Can legendary commentator Archie Macpherson broker a resolution to one of football’s longest-running feuds?

Spanning Scotland’s World Cup matches against Brazil in 1982, 1998 and 2026, The Toe Poke captures the triumph and despair of the Tartan Army as their team battle the world’s best team and the biased English media. The Toe Poke is more than a football story, it’s a human story about reconciliation and what unites and divides us.

The cast led by local Edinburgh actors bring to life Narey, Hill and Macpherson, all giant figures from the past seventy or more years of football on both sides of the border. Written by new playwright James Lowman, The Toe Poke is a funny and warm-hearted addition to the 2026 Fringe programme.

If you’re a member of the Tartan Army, or someone who has seen a Scotland v Brazil World Cup game on the telly, or you wanted to know why people still talk about Narey’s goal 44 years on … or you just wondered what the hell a toe poke is – The Toe Poke is a must-see this August.

SHOW INFORMATION
Venue: Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge – Venue 7
Stage: Committee room
Dates: 7-18
Ticket Price £12 (£10): 
Time: 18:15
Length: 50m