Felix Jakob Mangold on ‘Downward Spiral: The Benji’s Mind Show’
After the success of our 2025 Camden Fringe Interviews, we thought it only right to attempt a repeat for 2026. So throughout July we published over 60 interviews to give a taste of what to expect from London’s best fringe theatre festival. The plan was to stop there, but as shows are still coming to us asking for interviews, we thought we’d do a few more! But we have to stop soon, we’re also very busy seeing the shows now.
You can find out more about Camden Fringe, along with details of every show playing here. You can also find all of this year’s interviews at here.
Fusing the frantic energy of late-night talk shows with raw psychological realism, Downward Spiral: The Benji’s Mind Show offers an uncompromising look at addiction, depression, and anxiety. Written and performed by actor and stand-up comedian Felix Jakob Mangold, the solo piece takes audiences on a darkly funny descent into a fractured psyche across runs at The Libra Theatre Café and Rosemary Branch Theatre. Ahead of the performances, Mangold sat down with us to discuss drawing inspiration from Danny Brown and Trainspotting, the power of minimalist set design, and why comedy remains one of the sharpest tools for discussing mental health.
If you had to describe the vibe of your show in just one sentence, what would it be and how does it manifest on stage?
A darkly funny and surreal descent into the fractured mind of someone battling addiction, depression, and anxiety, where comedy and psychological horror collide.
Why is 2026 the perfect time for this show to be seen?
2026 feels like the right moment for Downward Spiral: The Benji’s Mind Show as conversations around mental health are becoming more open, honest, and necessary. With psychological horror gaining attention through films like Obsession, audiences are increasingly drawn to stories that explore the darker, more complex sides of the human mind. The show taps into this moment by blending psychological unease, dark comedy, and emotional honesty into a uniquely relatable experience.
What was the ‘eureka moment’ that made you realise this story had to be told right now?
As both the writer and sole performer, I wanted to transform my own experiences with addiction, depression, and anxiety into a form that I enjoy most: a chaotic, character-driven show inspired by the absurd energy of “The Eric Andre Show”, the raw sensibility and dark comedy of “Trainspotting”, and the intense, fractured world of my favorite album of all time, Danny Brown’s “Atrocity Exhibition”.
Being fringe and a festival, we all know sets have to be bare minimum, how have you got around this?
The show is intentionally minimal in its use of set, props, and tech, built around just three chairs. This simplicity allows the focus to remain entirely on the performance, the characters, and the story being told.
How important is audience interaction to you?
Audience interaction is a hugely important part of the show. As both an actor and stand-up comedian, I designed the performance to include moments of direct interaction with the audience, creating a more unpredictable, immersive, and unique experience every night.
What does “success” look like for you this August, beyond just selling tickets?
People having a good time, the show being impactful.
Who would play you in the Hollywood adaptation of your future autobiography?
Marv from Home Alone.
If budget or reality was not an issue, what’s the one piece of scenery/set you’d love to have in your show?
Hannibal Buress as a co-host.
Many thanks to Felix for the chat. Downward Spiral: The Benji’s Mind Show plays at The Libra from Sunday 16 to Wednesday 19 August, then transfers to Rosemary Branch Theatre for two nights from Thursday 20 August.
