CatGPT

Truly original with images and laughs that have stayed with me many weeks after the event. This is what the Fringe can champion – a first-time performer with something in a category of its own. Robin delivers extempore and conversationally a mix of the personal (an episode with his Mum, and his cat) and the imagination, with a nod to Heath Robinson and plenty of high-tech visuals thrown in. Granted one week of performances this year, he's been offered one month in 2025, and no wonder. Audiences grew as word got around and it was a full house on the last day. I shall book tickets early next summer if he embellishes the season again.

Wonderfully funny, daringly creative and touching too, CatGPT is truly unique.

Just when you thought you were up to speed with the Lentils’ ASBO, Robin whiskas you away into a monologue about crumpets (aka spectrum). Then, all of a sudden audience members are on stage jamming on Lentils synthesisers and theremin tail!

Before you know it, the house lights are up but you could easily stay for more. I saw the performance several times but I can’t wait to see it again.

Cats, robotics & the Welsh language spoken in an American accent (through AI), what’s not to love?!

It's over a week since I saw the final performance of this extraordinary show and although I've been talking about little else ever since, it almost defies language to describe what I saw and what I feel. Apart from the fact that it was brilliant and haunting and moving and one of the most inspirationally mad thing I've ever seen. Robin Wealleans isn't a born story-teller - he was born a story-teller many lives ago, probably when he was a cat. And as Lentil will now live forever, that means everyone from now on should get the chance to see CatGPT. Book early, book often!

CAT GPT is a stroke of genius, with genuine and heartfelt delivery by it's human Robin. You should check it out- it stood out as the most original show of the week. Miaow is the time for Cat GPT!

By far the best show I saw while I was there. So good, I actually went twice for the Friday and the week finale on Saturday.
The show itself is an excellent mix of storytelling, dark comedy, Robotics and AI with a healthy smattering of themes such as death, loss, reincarnation and neurodiversity.
Robin himself (the host of the show), has an engaging approach with plenty of audience participation and obviously a vast amount of material considering both shows I saw were very different. Saturday night was the highlight with a full house, over 100 people viewing live online and an authentic Scots piper as a surprise guest.
Very entertaining, very thought provoking and very much worth seeing.

A really unusual and interesting show, kids of laugh it loud moments, but lots of food for thought as well.

A great and genuinely unique interactive art piece, unlike anything I've seen before.

Highly recommended.

I watched the first three and the last. Robin Wealleans’ performance of **CatGPT** at the Edinburgh Fringe was nothing short of extraordinary. The show, a dark comedy with a neurodiversity-led perspective, tells the "mostly true" story of Robin's attempt to resurrect his beloved cat Lentil using robotics, AI, and projection. This mix of innovative technology and heartfelt narrative has created a unique and immersive experience that captivated audiences more with each performance.

From its modest beginnings, where your and Tom's promotional efforts significantly boosted the show's profile, CatGPT evolved into a crowd-puller, culminating in a live performance that attracted over 100 attendees online. This steady increase in audience size is a testament to the show's growing reputation and the quality of its content.

Robin's ability to blend humor with poignant themes of loss, attachment, and the challenges of neurodiversity set his show apart at the Fringe. The creativity involved in reimagining Lentil with augmented features like laser pointers and a meow synthesizer, combined with the sinister undertones of Lentil Industries, offered a wild, satirical take on modern technology and emotional attachment that resonated deeply with viewers.

The show’s success is also reflected in its critical reception, being described as a "mashup of Heath Robinson, Frankenstein, and everything in between" by notable reviewers. This high praise, along with the enthusiastic audience response, underscores just how well Robin has done, both as a performer and as a creator of this unique narrative((:

Honestly the best show I've ever seen, Fringe or no. Deeply interesting, insightful and funny. The host was incredibly charismatic and I went back 4 times - each time it got better and better. Goes between poignant, hilarious, serious and irreverent at a breakneck pace. Couldn't believe it was an hour - had so much fun it seemed to pass in minutes. If you EVER get a chance to see CatGPT or in fact anything by the host, cancel all your other plans to go along. Many thanks to all the people (and cats) that were involved!

A story of loss and rebirth. When do we really die? Is it when our breath stops, or when the stories we created when we were alive are no longer spoken?
Lentil is reanimated in this tale which swings from dark and surreal to uplifting and life affirming. Although his new body is having glitches, it seems Lentil the Cat is enjoying his rebirth in unexpected ways, reversing the roles of pet and keeper. A Guru for our augmented times.
Utterly transfixed .
So glad I took the time to seek this one out !

I loved this, Robin and his robot cat it reminded me of something that might have had ten minutes every week on Vision On or any of the most imaginative 70s kids TV programmes (but with more drug references). It's a rave story, a pet story, a robotics demo, an AI demo, an exploration of outsider art and its got a bit of memento mori too. I didn't get round to it but I would have liked to go again as you see different features of Lentil the robot cat every time for two reasons 1) It's unscripted and randomised and 2) It seems like different features break down and get fixed regularly which adds to the charm.

I don't know what I was expecting, but I definitely wasn't expecting there to be an actual cat robot onstage. I was totally blown away by CatGPT. I got flyered a for this show a few days ago, and something about the art and the concept really got its hooks in me. I'm so glad I went, and will probably go again. This truly bizarre, heartwarming, surprising show is unlike anything else you will see at the Fringe (or anywhere else, for that matter). What a beautiful tribute to a truly unique pet, and an imaginative exploration of what Fringe theatre can be. I give it twenty-seven out of five stars.

A really strange yet wonderful show with a message about keeping loss and keeping people’s (and cats) memory with us. Definitely worth seing to discover Lentil’s story !! robotics are super cool and a heartwarming show !

More of a comic-strip show, less focus on the robotics element which makes it's appearance at the end. It's a late show, starting around midnight, and overran by about 30 mins (making it a 90 min show in the end).

It's their first show at the Fringe (ever) so i imagine there are some learnings to be had. Nonetheless the robotics are cool, and there is a story that goes along with the show.

Quite unique cat show. Robin has brought his beloved pet back to life in a very hi tech and entertaining way. Clever use of some of Lentils remaining anatomy and AI wisdom, he even understands Welsh. So good I went to see it three times.

Fantastic! Fantastic! Fantastic!

As a neurotypical person myself who loves cats and is fascinated by new technology, i absolutely LOVED this show! :) it had a great comedic-comic reading beginning where the stage of lentils being was set, and eventually ended in fun audience participation where we got to get up close and personal to lentil!
Great for couples who love a laugh

This is not your typical comedy performance.

The show centres around Robin's attempts to bring his beloved cat Lentil back to life using robotics, AI, and a lot of creativity. It sounds a bit out there, and it is, but that's what makes it so engaging.

One of the things I loved most about the show is how interactive it is. We could could ask robo-lentil questions and we'd get tales from his colourful catty past, sometimes with a sassy dig at his pet human. And it's not just a standard presentation, this is a fully interective cat-cyborg.

I would class this show as a must-see, it's engaging, interesting, funny and different. One not to miss.

If you’re more of a cat person than a dog person, and you’ve always had a tiny suspicion that your cat is plotting something, your questions will be answered here. Ridiculous and wonderful, totally interactive and a fair dose of belly laughing. Your cat (and your mum) would be proud!