No Man's
Debuting at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, August 2026
No Man’s is Catawba College Theatre’s new, original play written by senior Adison Schwab and directed by Dr. Erin Dougherty, Associate Professor of Costume Design and Chair of the Department of Theatre Arts. On January 31, the Theatre Arts Department hosted a reading of No Man’s for the campus community in Hedrick Little Theater. An intimate, sizable crowd gathered to witness the script for the first time and participate in an engaging feedback session.
One commenter said, “This reading was awesome. It was written so well it pulls you in to the story. You are drawn to love the characters as they bring this story to life!” Another expressed their excitement for the production, “I can’t wait to see No Man’s on stage!”
Dr. Dougherty’s Fringe Festival Travel class is composed of students from multiple disciplines across campus. This select group is set to perform Schwab’s original work at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The fringe festival runs August 7-31, 2026 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Set against the tumultuous panorama of World War I, No Man’s by Adison Schwab reveals the saga of Joe, a battle-weary soldier, and Willa, a firecracker of a nurse. In the starkness of the trenches, they find an unlikely oasis of love, a defiant light in the abyss of war. Yet, as fate exerts its pull, Joe and Willa face the ultimate trial: the resilience of a love born in the shadow of turmoil. No Man’s invites audiences to reflect on the unyielding courage of the human soul and the transcendent power of hope amidst the darkest of times.
Interview with the Playwright
Adison Schwab
Adison is a senior BFA Theatre Performance major and Creative Writing minor at Catawba College. Originally from Lyman, SC, she started writing No Man's in the middle of the pandemic in her childhood bedroom, stating, "These characters have grown up with me and hold a very special place in my heart. I hope you have space for them in yours as well."
Her past credits include Ensemble in Urinetown, Becky in Becky Nurse of Salem, Margaret in Carrie: The Musical, Isla in Spring Awakening, Louise in Always, Patsy Cline, Della in The Cake (Catawba College), The Narrator in A Christmas Carol (Piedmont Players Theatre), and Margaret in Silent Sky (Lee Street Theatre), among many many others.
When she’s not on stage, Adison can usually be found with a book or camera in hand, writing her own shows, or playing Dungeons and Dragons with her friends .
