Amanda Knox in Cartwheel review – rookie standup acquitted of murder tells her story

Amanda Knox Brings Her Story to Edinburgh’s Fringe Stage

Wanderstayfinder.com – There is perhaps no better moment for Amanda Knox to step onto a stage than now. The American woman who spent years in an Italian prison for the murder of Meredith Kercher has arrived at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with a new performance called Cartwheel. At 39 years old, she is no longer the young student caught in a media storm, but a mother navigating a different kind of public scrutiny while attempting to reclaim her narrative on her own terms.

A Performance That Defies Easy Classification

The show opens with a bold declaration: “Welcome to the most controversial show on the fringe!” Some viewers might interpret this introduction as self-regard from a rookie comedian. Others, including Knox herself, see it as an acknowledgment of the ongoing campaign to diminish her voice. The performance occupies an interesting space between comedy and memoir, and while labeling it strictly as comedy might feel like a misstep, it captures something essential about Knox’s approach to her story.

She has become what the article describes as “the human version of the blue/gold dress” — a canvas onto which audiences project their own interpretations. Guilty. Innocent. Or simply weird. With her innocence now legally established, Knox focuses on that third category, retelling her oft-narrated journey through the fresh lens of motherhood.

“To be the exact girl I was punished for being.”

This sentiment, articulated with growing anger at her treatment and determination, forms the emotional core of Cartwheel. Knox is not merely recounting events; she is actively reshaping how her story will be remembered, particularly for her four-year-old daughter.

Motherhood as a New Perspective

What makes this performance particularly compelling is how Knox weaves her past trauma with her present reality. Episodes from what she calls her “extremely prolonged and public trauma” unfold alongside the mundane act of folding children’s clothes. She maintains a running dialogue with her daughter’s voice, creating an intimate atmosphere that transcends traditional standup comedy.

One of the most touching moments comes when Knox considers how to explain her wrongful imprisonment to her children. Her solution? A Dr. Seuss-style tale: “Knox the fox in a box with locks.” This simple, child-friendly framing demonstrates her evolution from a victim of circumstance to an active storyteller who controls the narrative.

The performance also addresses the unexpected challenges of modern motherhood, particularly when a baby’s birth is greeted with hateful online abuse. Becoming a mum has clearly refined Knox’s understanding of her past experiences and sharpened her fury at everything she and her own mother endured during those difficult years.

A Defiant Reclamation

Is it a disgrace that Knox is telling her story at all? Some would argue she is profiting from tragedy, though such critics presumably have never taken a show to the Edinburgh Fringe. What emerges from Cartwheel is not exploitation, but a genuine attempt at healing and empowerment.

Knox admits she is an inexperienced comedian, and this is not a polished “show” in the traditional sense. Yet she shapes and performs this umpteenth telling of her story with remarkable skill. Her jokes, while eliciting more rueful smiles than belly laughs, are adroitly placed and add warmth to an otherwise heavy narrative.

The spirit of defiance is palpable throughout the performance. Knox remains respectful to the memory of her murdered roommate while simultaneously asserting her right to move forward. This balanced approach makes Cartwheel not just a personal triumph, but a well-judged effort to reclaim an awful story on her own terms.

For those seeking insight into what it means to be Amanda Knox today, the answer lies in this performance. It is a woman who has been damned whatever she did, yet continues to find her voice. At Gilded Balloon Teviot in Edinburgh, running until August 17, 2026, Cartwheel offers audiences a chance to witness this transformation firsthand.