The Super Power Agency is a children’s literacy charity based in Edinburgh who work to help young people in Scotland write their own story. Find out more atsuperpoweragency.com.
Zahra Beattie
Stanislavski Can’t Save Me From The Apocalypse
★★★★
The end is here, but the show must go on! Stanislavski Can’t Save Me From the Apocalypse is the story of five drama teachers at a kids’ theatre summer camp as they try to protect everyone from a deadly infection. The story, told in reverse, starts two weeks after the apocalypse and ends before the sickness even starts. This backwards storytelling helps the show to feel more hopeful than it otherwise might be, creating a sometimes melancholy, often funny, queer coming of age tale in the same vein as I Saw the TV Glow.
This is a story about girls on the brink of their new, adult lives, trying to remember who they are in the midst of the end of the world. The apocalypse feels like a metaphor for growing up, leaving your friends and having to take care of others while still grappling with your own immaturity.
Living Room Productions makes the most of the small space they have and the show manages to take a big theme and make it accessible by focusing on the characters’ relationships and how they grow apart. The cast have blinding amounts of potential; trust that you’ll see them again.
A show for anyone looking for new talent, stories of girlhood and hope for dark times.
Stanislavski Can’t Save Me From The Apocalypse, Greenside @ George Street, until 22 Aug (not 16), 3.05pm
Burning Down the Horse
★★★
What really happened inside the Trojan Horse? A question this production does not set out to answer.
Burning Down the Horse is an immersive comedy experience set inside the Trojan Horse as a plot builds outside to set it on fire. Odysseus is leading an army to Troy, hidden inside a massive wooden horse, in an attempt at a surprise attack. In this show, the plan doesn’t work, probably because it’s a terrible plan.
The cast are high energy and enthusiastic, interacting with the audience before the play even starts. During the show, the audience are called on to help the cast as soldiers, so if you dislike audience participation, you might want to sit this one out.
The comedy is largely based on misunderstandings and the characters’ failure to grasp the situation. It was fun, clearly well-rehearsed but I can’t say I’ll remember it for long. The length of the show exceeded its content.
Great if you want to step out of reality for an hour and pretend to be somewhere else. A fun show that’ll leave you with a smile but not much more.
Burning Down the Horse, Underbelly Bristo Square, until 30 Aug (not 17) , 12.35pm
Holly Gibson
Ayo Adenekan: Homeland Insecurity
★★★
Ayo Adenekan’s stand-up is full of personal anecdotes and memories that tell the story of his experience growing up in Edinburgh as a Black Nigerian man and a member of the LGBTQ+ community. His performance is laidback and relatable, thanks to his conversational comedic style. The cave-like basement room at Cabaret Voltaire adds to the intimate atmosphere that allows the audience to connect with him quickly and easily.
Adenekan brings his honest reflections on a range of important topics whilst still keeping the show upbeat and threading through his comedic twist on everything. Highlights include a story about an unlikely meet-cute while on shift at the Oink! hog roast sandwich shop, and hearing about his trip to Nigeria is guaranteed to make you smile.
Ayo Adenekan: Homeland Insecurity, Monkey Barrel Comedy (Cabaret Voltaire), until 30 Aug (not 17), 1.30pm
A Microscopic Odyssey
★★★
This show is produced by Mycelium Theatre Company and follows a story based on the life of the microbiologist James Weiss. We follow James from childhood, where we see his curiosity for science and nature evolve,
This multimedia show is a ball of energy and illusion that uses a mix of dance, music and physicality to tell the story. The show’s tent-slash-igloo-like venue at Pleasance Courtyard adds to the intimacy and fantasy of the story, while the use of a projector and petri dish brings the scientific side of the story to life. A fresh and fantastical look at the microscopic world that leaves just enough room for your own imagination and interpretation.
A Microscopic Odyssey, Pleasance Courtyard,until 16 Aug, 11.35am
Lauchlan Innes
Stanislavski Can’t Save Me From The Apocalypse
★★★★
Apocalypse. Friendship. Romance. Summer camp. Not many shows you’ll see at the Fringe this year will have all of these. Stanislavski Can’t Save Me From the Apocalypse is an interesting new take on the post-apocalypse genre, focusing on a very small part of the now-ruined world. The story follows five young women who are left in charge of a children’s theatre camp in the immediate aftermath of the end of the world, as they try to save both the kids and their friendship.
This ambitious and dramatic script shines, partly due to its reverse-chronological storytelling, which transforms the already good writing into something outstanding. The cast are all talented and passionate performers who immersed themselves and the audience in the play with their relatable, funny dynamic.
The show used the small stage space to its fullest and didn’t let its limited scale stop them from telling a meaningful story. I would love to see what they could do with a bigger stage and production budget.
Stanislavski Can’t Save Me from the Apocalypse is an active recommendation for anyone looking for a self-aware dark comedy at this year’s Fringe.
Stanislavski Can’t Save Me From The Apocalypse, Greenside @ George Street, until 22 Aug (not 16), 3.05pm
Burning Down the Horse
★★★★
“Are you ready to climb inside a giant wooden horse and ride into battle?” is one of the least bizarre things you’re likely to hear during this energetic and unique take on the story of the Trojan Horse, returning to the Fringe for its third run. From the moment the audience is marched into the wooden horse by Odysseus and his crew, you are immersed in a ridiculous journey through Greek mythology.
Don’t go expecting a faithful adaptation, however. This show, which could be described as a fun amalgamation of Monty Python and Horrible Histories, relies heavily on panto-style audience interaction and practical jokes which are sure to make people of all ages laugh out loud. The jokes are well-written and entertaining, though sometimes a bit repetitive, and delivered by a passionate, witty and experienced cast who all seem to genuinely love the show.
If you’re a fan of Greek myths, pure stupidity and comedic adventure, this show will prove to be a fun hour for all ages.
Burning Down the Horse, Underbelly Bristo Square, until 30 Aug, 12.35pm
Gabriela Pascal
Our Town Needs A Nando’s
★★★
Our Town Needs A Nando’s tells the story of five high school girls living in a small town, where places to go and things to do are limited and pretty unsafe. The cast of talented young women explore themes of friendship, sexuality and teenage pregnancy in this drama from Hot Mess Productions.
It’s clear that a lot of thought has been given to each of the characters’ backstories and the cast seem to know their roles inside out. We get some insight into each of the five girls’ different situations and their relationships with one another, but it’s often too shallow and leaves a lot of room for interpretation. Sometimes it felt like the show was trying to cram too much story into an hour, which left the audience without a full understanding of what was going on. With more structure or a focus on just one or two of the characters, more questions would have been answered. At the same time, the show was not lacking in sincerity and it was clear that the cast really cared about the topics the show was bringing to life.
While this show isn’t the funny comedy it’s billed as, it will leave you with plenty of food for thought.
Our Town Needs A Nando’s, theSpace on the Mile, until 15 Aug, 2.30pm
Apparently Ugly: A Stepsister Story
★★★★
Apparently Ugly by ERA Theatrical Productions is set in the aftermath of Cinderella’s classic happily ever after and tells the untold story of her two stepsisters. It’s a show that is both relevant and inspiring as it tackles themes of inner beauty and self-discovery.
This slick musical is full of fun, playful songs and a cast who seem to really enjoy the story they’re telling on stage. The simple staging does enough to set the scene while engaging the audience’s imagination, though sometimes the lighting and smoke effects were a bit over the top for the space, but generally it was effective. The stepsisters had a genuine sisterly bond and the colourful costumes really helped the characters’ different personalities shine through.
This pantomime, musical mash-up had the audience laughing and left us with smiles on our faces. It’s the perfect show for younger families looking for a funny, lighthearted way to start their day at the Fringe, with enough to entertain kids and parents alike.
Apparently Ugly: A Stepsister Story, Underbelly Bristo Square, until 31 Aug, 11:40am
Kiri May Weymark-Mains
The Jolly Fisherman
★★★★
It’s a Tuesday night in 2019 and best friends Alan and Amir have just got out of school. What better way to spend their now-empty afternoons than shooting darts together at The Jolly Fisherman. But what happens when the pub suddenly shuts down and their friendship begins to strain?
The Jolly Fisherman is an intense but realistic portrayal of modern-day racism in East London, following two best friends struggling to keep their bond alive when their community starts to change in ways they aren’t prepared for. Thanks to moments of light audience interaction and the storytelling throughout, the audience feels as though they are sitting in the pub with a pint themselves, watching the lives of these two boys play out.
The intensity of the music, lighting and performances contrast with the subtlety of the racism enacted by the characters, highlighting the polarising effects of this issue both in the play and real life. This means that sometimes you don’t have space to process everything that’s being said until later, but it does mean you will leave this show thinking deeply about it for a while after.
From darts to damage, The Jolly Fisherman demonstrates the loud impact that can be made by small actions, showing the effects of inequality in the UK today in a performance that is very much worth your time.
The Jolly Fisherman, Underbelly George Square, until 30 Aug (not 17), 12.45pm
Grace Mulvey: Gigantica
★★★
A giant head (literally) and a touch of millennialism is what makes this debut show come to life. Grace Mulvey stars as Grace Mulvey in this heart-warming comedy about one Irish woman’s life and experiences with helmets that just don’t fit right.
Mulvey speaks about a range of things, from serious to silly, shining a light on important topics like dementia and public perceptions of body image, while being able to have a good laugh with the audience. The show explores her relationship with her dad in particular in an incredibly sweet way, laughing about the ups and downs and similarities between them. With intimate lighting and seats so close you feel you’re on stage, the venue helps to bring you into Grace’s world. Her warm personality and self-deprecating jokes make you feel like you’re talking with a good friend.
While Gigantica might not be the most memorable, this show is a great introduction to Grace’s comedy. With time she will no doubt find her flow and grow in confidence on the stage, but for now you’ll still leave having had a good laugh with a funny performer.
Grace Mulvey: Gigantica, Assembly George Square, 5-30 Aug, 3pm