Tag: Edinburgh Festival Fringe
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Review: The Plot
An intriguing tangle of misguided loyalties and thwarted ambition is weighed down by a dense script
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The Very Best of the Edinburgh Festivals (2026)
Our continually updated round-up of all the four and five star shows seen by our writing team
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Review: Little Animals
Motherland’s Paul Ready makes his playwriting debut with a climate tale, but it’s the technical execution that truly excels
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Review: Lions
Physical comedy duo Lightning Rod Special find the funny in the grieving of their fathers
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Review: If I can’t Dance I’m Not Coming
This Metropolis-inspired dance piece possesses a bold conceptual premise, but lacks exposition
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Review: Border Bodies
T.F. Dance Company’s exhilarating dance piece Border Bodies explores the politicisation of movement
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Review: Marc Jennings: If & When
Marc Jennings shows why he’s one of the most versatile and strongest all-round stand-ups in Scotland
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Review: New York City Dreams
New Yorker Meka Mo’s debut hour is a charismatic if slightly unfocused hour
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Review: Flamenc Oh!!
Fusion of pantomime and panto-style slapstick fails to uplift either art form
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Edinburgh Festival Fringe Q&A: Eleanor Morton
Eleanor Morton discusses her latest stand-up show, The Mermaid, which explores coming of age
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Richard Marsh’s Perfect Day
We asked Richard Marsh for his idea of a perfect day, and he took us, poetically, into the life of a mayfly
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Review: Aliens
A mother and daughter experiment, Aliens is a multi-lingual exploration of heritage and migration
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Brendan Scannell: The Abyss
Part standup, part monologue, The Abyss sees Brendan Scannell dive deep into his own trauma and upbringing
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Review: Katie Norris: Mother Succubus
Katie Norris embraces her Mother Succubus alter-ego as fiercely cynical agony aunt for younger women
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Alice Fraser
Alice Fraser discusses Oh Man!, her stand-up show exploring masculinity and the manosphere
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Cecily Hitchock’s Family Recipe
We asked the comedian to write us the recipe for a family favourite. Bananas and ham, anyone?
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Marty Gleeson
BBC New Comedy Award finalist Marty Gleeson talks us through their Fringe show Dog Ear
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Review: Alfie Dundas: First Class Panic
Alfie Dundas’s reflections on his privileged upbringing hits a snag after some destabilising crowd work
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Review: Giraffe
Abigail Weinstock’s quirky new solo play follows a young girl as she stands accused of stalking her neighbour
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Alex Franklin
Alex Franklin discusses her stand-up and musical comedy show Kiss Me x, all about kissing and dating
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Interview: Igor Gasparini and Pasha Gorbachev on Border Bodies
Cover story: Border Bodies’ co-creators and dancers Igor Gasparini and Pasha Gorbachev on bringing the show to Edinburgh as part of the São Paulo Showcase
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Review: Burger and a Pint: Treats for the Soul
Sketch comedy duo Burger and a Pint explore compromised masculinity with easy chemistry
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Review: HAM
This Hamlet-skewering two-hander opens a window to processing eco-grief
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Review: 1979 Persianality Disorder
Reflecting on growing up in Iran and moving to Europe, Sepideh Kaav’s solo dark comedy show is yet to find its feet
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Edinburgh Festival Fringe Q&A: Finlay Christie
Comedian Finlay Christie discusses his latest show Champagne Casanova
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Review: SLAYERS by Corinne Salisbury
SLAYERS’ exploration of violence and the manosphere builds tension even when it occasionally lacks clarity
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Pete Belcher
Pete Belcher discusses Noted, the new show from his art and entertainment collective The Back Pack
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Review: John Kearns: Tilting at Windmills
John Kearns may be at a crossroads in his life, but on stage he’s exactly where he ought to be
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Review: Frankie McNair: Huge Ass Mindset
Frankie McNair’s show excavates childhood trauma with humour
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Review: Adam Flood: Life and Death of the Party
Adam Flood’s relentless exploration of millennial anguish is bombastic, but in need of some fine tuning
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Review: Kate Dehnert: Echo
Kate Dehnert’s emotional show explores the fall-out from a ten-year relationship
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Review: Zoe Wohlfeld: Dog Funeral
Zoe Wohlfield delivers a committed performance exploring grief as she stages a funeral for her furry best friend
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Young Critics at the Fringe
We sent the Super Power Agency out into the festivals with a group of newly-trained teen reviewers to suss out the best shows for young people this Fringe
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Review: FORIEGNER
Sohrab Hagverdi explores complicated politics and the performativity of autobiography with live art chaos
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Review: Mohan: A Partition Story
Gifted storyteller Niall Moorjani brings their grandfather’s boyhood partition memories to life with warmth, wit and vulnerability
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Fay Guiffo
Fay Guiffo talks to us about Arcana, her debut show which comes to the Fringe as part of the Made in Scotland showcase
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Review: Ele Mckenzie: Bringing It All Back Home
Ele McKenzie bears her heart, soul and body in her debut comedy hour
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Review: Poles
Yvonne Smink’s performance is a spectacle of the human body and its capabilities
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Review: INDY!
This satire of the Indiana Jones trilogy has roots in postmodern panto
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Rob Preston
Comedian Rob Preston answers our Edinburgh Fringe Q&A in typically tongue in cheek fashion
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Review: Robin Grainger: Lemonade
Robin Grainger makes his anticipated Edinburgh Fringe return with Lemonade
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Rob Copland: ONE (more please)
Rob Copland grapples with professional woes and becoming a father in his latest show
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Review: Jill’s Tupperware Party
Interactive kitsch nightmare has the makings of a future cult classic
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Review: Angels in America
Internationaal Theater Amsterdam reimagines Tony Kushner’s contemporary classic Angels in America
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Mark Thomas’s Core Memory Playlist
Trailblazing comedian and activist Mark Thomas shares a highly personal mixtape
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Review: BIRDS: Alex Hines and Sarah Stafford
Beckettian Aussie Absurdism from Sons of Susan
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Review: Ed Night: We’ll Be Alright, Darling
Ed Night delivers a tight set that is as introspective as it is mischievous
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Interview: SH!T Theatre on EVITA TOO
SH!T Theatre’s latest project charts the forgotten herstory of Isabel Perón: the world’s first female president and Juan Perón’s third wife.
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Review: Josh Pickar: Getting Off
The comedian draws on his past as a death row lawyer to examine the US justice system
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Review: Rob Auton: JUPITER
Rob Auton’s shaggy dog tale is an elaborate vehicle for his mix of standup and storytelling
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Review: The Trials of Magnus Coffinkey
A steampunk allegory exploring baby loss and grief within a couple
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Tom Ballard
Australian comedian Tom Ballard discusses his new comedy show based on a recent joke scandal he became involved in
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Review: SUCCUBUS
Themes of queer liberation and sexual awakening run through this addition to the carnivore horror genre
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Review: The Singer
A moving piece of musical theatre exploring ableism and inclusivity
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Review: Marty Gleeson: Dog Ear
Gleeson squeezes meaning into every line that she can, but backs herself into an imaginative corner
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Em Humble
BAFTA-longlisted comedian, Em Humble unpacks her new character comedy show inspired by Arthurian legend
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Review: Tia Rey: Oot Ma Banger
Hotly-tipped Glaswegian comic Tia Rey gives us a charismatic hour exploring psychedelics
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Review: ROLEPLAY
Hannah Reilly’s show asks whether female sexual empowerment can survive commercialisation
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Review: Selina Mosinski: Puss in Boots – A Working Class Fairy Tale
Fringe fairytale debut from Charity Shop Sue shows great promise but offers little levity for the audience
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Review: Jonno: Here Comes Mr Funny
The debut Fringe show from Jonno, SNL UK’s head writer, is unsurprisingly excellent
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Review: Bunny!
In Bunny!, a villainous would-be starlet turns murderous after one rejection too many
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Kid’s Review: Glob
Alvie, five, enjoys the new circus adventure from Les Foutoukours
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Review: The Palestinian Circus: Step and a Half
Step and a Half celebrates Palestinian culture while expounding joy as resistance
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Review: Madeleine Brettingham: Legend
Warm, weighty debut exploring geezer culture from natural comic Madeleine Brettingham
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Review: not for glory
not for glory sees three performers reclaim the traditional dance and music of their childhoods
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Review: Sam Eley is Basil Crumbwick: Soul Sewage
Sam Eley debuts as Basil Crumbwick, his papier-mâché-headed alter ego
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Review: Crybabies: The Scaring
A surprising, stellar third show from the Crybabies, exploring a washed-up exorcist who takes on one last gig
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Review: Larry Dean: Hellbent
Slick, effortless comedy from stand-up and Saturday Night Live UK star Larry Dean
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Opinion: Mama G on the Importance of Libraries
Children’s performer Mama G schools us on the power of pantomime and libraries
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Hayley Earlam
Award-winning choreographer Hayley Earlam discusses her new show Brrr
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Review: Scout Boxall: God’s Favourite
Written and polished to within an inch of its life, God’s Favourite lands as theatre just as much as stand-up
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Review: Li Jin Hao: Falling From a Moon
Li Jin Hao’s hour possesses a weighty structure but sometimes errs too far into overblown whimsy
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Review: Kemah Bob: Love Child
An upbeat, joyful second hour from Fest cover star Kemah Bob
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Review: Man or Bear
Smart, powerful kitchen sink storytelling examining abuse and coercion
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Review: Bog Witch
Bryony Kimmings’ new show explores escapism and eco-anxiety in the English countryside
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Review: Roger Prick: Sexopolis
A raucous hour charting a fictional 70s pornographer’s journey from precocious leery youngin to sleazy Soho entrepreneur
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Bachelors of Fine Arts
Riley Elton McCarthy and Hope Johansen, the writers and stars of Bachelors of Fine Arts open up about their dark musical comedy
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Review: Amanda Knox: Cartwheel
Despite its controversial reputation, Amanda Knox’s comedy debut is surprisingly placid
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Review: Freddie Meredith: Need a Light?
Freddie Meredith embodies a recognisable archetype: the guy determined to be seen as a nightclub legend
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Review: Gareth Waugh: Is Pepsi OK?
Gareth Waugh unpacks a cracking Fringe-show tale with some nice true-crime touches
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Review: Mark Vigeant: OUT THERE
Mark Vigeant’s high-energy character comedy is an amusing hour, but pulls punches
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: not for glory
Charlotte Mclean, Jack Anderson and Malin Lewis discuss their rebellious work of dance-theatre
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Review: EVITA TOO
Fringe legends Becca Biscuit and Louise Mothersole positively outdo themselves with EVITA TOO
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Review: Jordan Brookes: The Part of You That’s Always Screaming
Jordan Brookes is a juggernaut spectacle of disturbing fascination
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Review: The Yellow Wallpaper
Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story The Yellow Wallpaper is adapted into a compelling dance thriller
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Review: Ania Magliano: Peach Fuzz
SNL UK’s Ania Magliano performs a sophisticated show with precise and effortless delivery
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Review: Eric Rushton: Could Well Be In
Eric Rushton delivers an hour reflecting on his mum and his upbringing with seven siblings
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Review: Chip and Gus: A Comedy with Balls
In this odd couple comedy, two performers exchange quips over table tennis
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Review: Maya Ricote: Ay Am!
For her debut hour, Maya Ricote embodies a parodic version of a telenovela star
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Review: Olga Koch: Fat Tom Cruise
The comedian follows up last year’s standout show with a polished, high-production hour
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Review: Adi Parmar: Sunny Boy
Deeply autobiographical debut introduces us to a confident, prismatic new stand-up
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Review: Milo Edwards: Catamaran
A truly sensational hour of standup exploring grief, love and family
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Review: Bigfoot Ripped My Dog in Half I Saw It
With their unparalleled chemistry it’s easy to see why Xhloe and Natasha are the names on everyone’s lips
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Review: The Librarians: A Very Serious Comedy!
The Librarians is an unashamedly old-fashioned farce that revels in stereotypes
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Review: Hasan Al-Habib: Stuck in the Middle (East) With You
Hasan Al-Habib’s polished show can’t quite support a late dramatic tone shift
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Review: Those People
Fascinating and fresh sketch autofiction from Riana White and Lara Ciulli
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Review: Dan Kelly: How I Went to Every Supermarket in the World
Funny, travel-obsessed stand-up sells us a slice of life as a supermarket data collector
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Marc Brew on Boys Don’t Dance
Award-winning dancer and choreographer Marc Brew on his latest show Boys Don’t Dance
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Amy Matthews: Definitions of Toast
Amy Matthews takes on heavy subjects with aplomb, in this tightly structured set
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Review: Lizzy Hoo – Says Hoo?
Lizzy Hoo delivers a polished hour with outstanding writing and delivery
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Review: Skank Sinatra: How to Succeed in Show Business Without Really Trying
Despite technical talent, Jens Radda could deliver something fresher in future
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Kids Review: The Mystery of Pleasance Two
Lyra, ten, enjoys the murder mystery show The Mystery of Pleasance Two
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Review: Dracula: Lucy’s Dream
Plexus Polaire’s moving Dracula adaptation perfectly combines past and present
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Review: Nate Kitch: Replica
Nate Kitch delivers an hour of jazz-inspired deconstructionist, experimental comedy
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Kids review: The Listies 110% Ready
We take Oran (8), Eric (8) and Jimmy (11) to The Listies: 110% Ready
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Review: Matthew Gallagher: Last Minute
Scattergun hour is delivered with commitment and energy but lacks focus
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Review: Patient 13
Gail Thomas’s charming autobiographical drama is a play of two rather disparate halves
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Review: Tamsyn Kelly: Rat’s Ass
Crucial, well observed and all-too contemporary stand-up hour hails Tamsyn Kelly as one to watch
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Kids Review: Madame Chandelier’s Grand Theft Opera
Alvie, aged five, is impressed with Delea Shand’s cool giant butterfly wings
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Review: Alex Franklin: Kiss Me x
Gleefully nerdy new hour from Alex Franklin
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Review: Jennifer Jane: Happy Tea
Jennifer Jane is an extraordinary person telling an extraordinary story, in no-frills fashion
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Review: Joseph Morpurgo: Highlander 70
Joseph Morpurgo’s long-awaited Fringe return is a comedy masterclass
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Review: Metroland Live: As Seen On TV
Metroland start strong and fizzle out with the TV-themed follow-up to their debut
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Review: Man Sings Same Song Over and Over Again for an Hour
Man Sings Same Song Over and Over Again for an Hour does exactly what it says on the tin
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Review: Sapphire McIntosh: Squeaky Bum Time
Ex-footballer Sapphire McIntosh delivers a confident stand-up debut that nevertheless isn’t quite a clean strike
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Interview: Kemah Bob on Love Child
Cover story: Comedian Kemah Bob on the trials of growing up, inheritance, and following up their hit debut hour
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comrie sf’s Midnight Snacks Mixtape
comrie sf returns to the Fringe with a soothing charity mixed-bill. We asked him for its soundtrack
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Review: Mayflies
Faithful adaptation of Andrew O’Hagan’s coming-of-age novel is at home in a Leith warehouse
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Review: B48Y Crash Lands on Earth!
Lukas Meintjes’ camp clowning show sees an alien crash land into a gay nightclub
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Review: Sami Abu Wardeh Hates You
For his sophomore show, Sami Abu Wardeh offers a personal hour exploring his family and upbringing
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Review: Elf Lyons is The Woman on the Edge
Elf Lyons delivers her most personal piece yet, a must-see journey from heartbreak to rediscovery
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Review: Jess Fuchs: Feral
Jess Fuchs archly engages with the regressive impulses of the post-feminist moment
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Review: Rory Marshall: Thank You for the Opportunity
Rory Marshall goes broad with characters that lack a sharper, more defined edge
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Review: Boys Don’t Dance
Marc Brew’s new children’s dance-theatre show, Boys Don’t Dance, approaches storytelling, movement and a vibrant 80s soundtrack with inclusivity
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Review: Ifrah Qureshi: 48 Flaws of Power
Ifrah Qureshi’s debut Fringe hour engages with one of the manosphere’s canonical texts
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Review: Amanda Dwyer: Better Than Revenge
Amanda Dwyer’s debut show flips easy survivor narratives on their head for a caustic, complicated hour
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Review: Eva Peroni: Jungled
Potently leftist yet politically incorrect, Eva Peroni’s gleeful bravado glosses over the young comic’s contradictions
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Review: Sophie Duker: Hot Beef Injection
Sophie Duker offers a fresh and charming voice to the discourse on male loneliness
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Review: Jonathan Oldfield: Exquisite Corpse
Jonathan Oldfield’s unpredictable debut show stitches together sketch comedy gold
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Review: UNDERGROUND MONK SHOW
Four monks discover the power of water in this miraculously silly cult favourite sketch show
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Review: Andrew Doherty: Reviewers Welcome… TO DIE!
Andrew Doherty’s camp horror is amusing, but can feel unsophisticated, formulaic and shallow
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Review: Mrs Stern Wanders The Prussian State Library
A tense exploration of anti-Semitism in the totalitarian Nazi state is let down by the toothless characterisation of one of its villains
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Review: Kate Hammer: Government Approved Comedian
Kate Hammer’s frantic Fringe debut is themed around the bureaucratically taxing process of visa applications
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Review: Gareth Mutch Means Well
Even Gareth Mutch’s natural talent and likability can’t save a poorly defined and under-developed show
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Review: 11½ Angry Men
Despite a stacked comedic cast, a weak script leads to a lacklustre overall performance
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Review: Depths of Wikipedia
Annie Rauwerda turns her popular Instagram account @depthsofwikipedia into a fully-fledged comedy show
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Review: Sid Singh: Love Bombing
Sid Singh reflects on the role of political comedy amid global crisis in an earnest, likeable hour
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Review: Rosco McClelland: The Bones
Naturally funny Rosco McClelland has the bones of a killer show, which just needs fleshing out
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Review: How to Art
This absurdist art world satire riffs off of Maurizio Cattelan’s infamous banana stunt to mixed effect
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Review: Prophets
Prophets examines oppression and abuse of power within religious cults, but adds little to the conversation
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Review: Jack Brookmyre: Impressionable
Jack Brookmyre offers up whip-smart storytelling, savvy observations and caustic gags
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Review: PLASTIC
Minyoung Kim crafts a startlingly cinematic musical journey deep into ancient pasts and visionary futures
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Review: Chris Rutter: Ignorance Is Chris
Chris Rutter’s debut set is calmly delivered, full of solid gags with similar beats
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Review: REDACTED: The Cover-up of a Cover-up of a Cover-up
The tightly-packed comedic conspiracy thriller delivers big performances and smart sight gags
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Nelly Kelly
Drag artist Nelly Kelly on their timely, mischievous and political new work Transmission
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Review: Demi Adejuyigbe Sells Out
Demi Adejuyigbe delivers a skilful hour with super sharp comebacks and chaotic energy
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Review: Long Way Home
Layla Warren unpacks her journey from 1980s Iran to LA via London in a solo storytelling show with warmth
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Ethan & Gigi Present: THE MOVEMENT
At every moment THE MOVEMENT shrouds itself in glory and kicks itself in the nuts
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Review: Target Audience
A live wire cast does much of the heavy lifting in this tame critique of corporate interests and careerism
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Review: John Achkar: His country is collapsing. He’s having a baby. So obviously, this is the right year for a Lebanese comedian you’ve never heard of to try English stand-up for the first time
Lebanese comic John Achkar’s nascent English-language career gets off to a promising start
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Review: Abby Govindan: Pushing 30
Abby Govindan’s tour de force personality shines through despite an underpowered Fringe debut
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Review: Harriet Richardson: Creep
The debut stand-up show from performance artist Harriet Richardson tackles parasocial relationships head-on
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Review: Jack Ansett: Looks Like a Bit of Me!
Disparate routines don’t quite come together for New Zealander Jack Ansett’s Edinburgh debut
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Review: Finlay Christie: Champagne Casanova
A laidback, winsome approach from Finlay Christie falls short of the mark
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Kids Review: The Spencer Jones Experimental Kids Show
5 year-old Alvie couldn’t stop laughing at Spencer Jones’ silly props and faces
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Kids Review: Darryl J Carrington: Out of the Box
Oran, aged eight, takes a trip to see Darryl J Carrington’s wordless physical comedy show Out of the Box
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Review: Krapp’s Last Tape
An admirable Beckett revival, bolstered by David Westhead’s commanding performance
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Review: House Fly
An unstoppably silly, gleeful fly-drag show from clown Tess O’Shea
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Review: Blackbox
Rickerby Hinds eschews his hip hop trademarks in favour of fervent direct address, which works despite Blackbox’s rushed ending
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Review: Lara Ricote: INKLING
Lara Ricote embraces the power of three for an occasionally rapturous third show
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Review: Emmeline Downie: Gail
An unsparing portrait of a certain kind of lost soul, which errs towards middle-class misery over mirth
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Review: Patrick Monahan: I’m Not A Terrorist – I’m Freddie Mercury
Patrick Monahan hints at a hard-hitting show with personal tales but ultimately keeps things light
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Review: Lil Wenker: BOYKING
Energetic and loud tale of a tyrannical young prince relies on a lively audience
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Review: Rob Preston: Amazing Global Solutions
Rob Preston offers up delightfully deranged musings on the sex recession and parodies of masculinity which push cliches to farcical limits
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Review: Jenny Gorelick: SORRY
Depending on your relationship status, Jenny Gorelick’s debut Fringe hour will have you guffawing or debating if heterofatalism has gone too far
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Review: Spin Cycle
Sweltering chemistry on stage is let down by sloppy writing in Spin Cycle’s sapphic saga
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Review: Susie McCabe: Coming of Rage
Susie McCabe’s stand-up hour Coming of Rage promises anger but delivers comfortable laughter
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Interview: Madame Chandelier on Grand Theft Opera
Delea Shand on her new family show, a video-game styled spectacle featuring opera’s greatest heroines
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Interview: Fringe Comedians on Turning 30
Even at 30, many of us are wondering why we’re still waiting for our lives to start. We speak to five comedians about feeling priced out of growing up
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Interview: Michael Hockey and Yngvild Aspeli
Michael Hockey and Yngvild Aspeli on their respective shows that re-animate Gothic tales with the help of puppetry, and why Frankenstein and Dracula continue to fascinate us
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Interview: Minyoung Kim
Composer, vocalist and geomungo player Minyoung Kim on her solo show PLASTIC, which harnesses the material’s metaphorising potential
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Interview: Lucy Buncombe, Tom O’Kelly, Alex Pritchett and Emma Howlett
Lucy Buncombe, Tom O’Kelly, Alex Pritchett and Emma Howlett discuss their shows Remember, Remember! and The Plot, which each take a different approach to the Gunpowder Plot
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Interview: Stijn Van Opstal, Yana Wuytjens, Cora Bissett and Jamie Rea
Two pairs of theatre-makers on the process of bringing sign language to both Deaf and hearing audiences
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Interview: Madeleine Brettingham
After a successful career in writers’ rooms, Madeleine Brettingham prepares for her stand-up debut about being raised a geezer
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Interview: Kate Dolan
Following a Bestie win for last year’s The Critic, Kate Dolan is back with an altogether deeper stand-up hour
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Interview: Catherine Taaffe and Harriet Richardson on Limerence
Catherine Taaffe and Harriet Richardson discuss their Fringe shows dealing with the dizzying heights and crushing lows of romantic infatuation
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Emanuele Aldrovandi
Italian playwright, screenwriter and director Emanuele Aldrovandi discusses his new participatory theatre work coming to the Fringe
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Mark McAuley
As he brings a new adaptation of Gogol’s Diary of a Mad Man to the Fringe, Mark McAuley discusses mental health and modern loneliness
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Callum Patrick Hughes’ Day of the Locust Mixtape
Multi-instrumentalist Callum Patrick Hughes’ Fringe show reimagines Nathanael West’s 1930 novel for a musical reflection on contemporary America
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Opinion: Give us a fair cut
Writer, producer and clown Lukas Meintjes advocates for establishing a practical standard for venue deals in independent performing arts
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Yoz Mensch’s Queer Roadtrip Mixtape
Yoz Mensch selects The Muppets and SOPHIE for the unofficial soundtrack of My Grandpa Doesn’t Follow Me On Instagram
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Flo & Joan’s Andrew Lloyd Webber Mixtape
Ahead of their Andrew Lloyd Webber-themed Fringe show ‘One Man Musical’, Flo & Joan curate a Fest mixtape
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Mario Adrion
Comedian, content creator and former model Mario Adrion discusses his Zoolander-meets-Baby-Reindeer debut show
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‘Margaret Thatcher’s’ Hollywood Mixtape
Matt Tedford, in character as Margaret Thatcher, picks tracks featured in major motion pictures.
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Mike Wozniak
Mike Wozniak, the comedian seen on Taskmaster and heard on the Three Bean Salad podcast, answers our Fringe Q&A
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John-Luke Roberts Existential Crisis Mixtape
Returning to the Fringe with his first new show in four years, JLR picks songs for stewing on mortality.
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Charlotte Merriam
Charlotte Merriam discusses her new show Sad Bride, the wedding industrial complex, and comphet
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Lil Wenker’s BOYKING Mixtape
American clown Lil Wenker curates a power-hungry playlist
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Li Jin Hao
After his breakthrough hour Swimming In A Submarine debuted in 2024, the comedian returns with Falling From a Moon
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Andrew Doherty’s Underrated Bangers Mixtape
Andrew Doherty selects underrated bangers from Fleur East and Sugababes ahead of his 2026 Fringe show
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Molly-Rose Treves and Gabriel Fogarty-Graveson
The Dream Machine cast members Molly-Rose Treves and Gabriel Fogarty-Graveson talk improv and their picks of the Fringe
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Brit Barron’s CHURCH Mixtape
Brit Barron compiles the tracks which inspired her gospel-comedy crossover CHURCH.
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Hadsan Mohamud
Writer and performer Hadsan Mohamud discusses her play CRUSH: a teen love story set in an eating disorder clinic
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Hannah Byczkowski’s Killer Mixtape
‘The Traitors’ winner Hannah Byczkowski provides an unofficial soundtrack to her death-themed debut
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Maria Bartholdi
Ahead of Endometriosis: The Musical’s Fringe run, co-creator Maria Bartholdi discusses women’s health and the US political landscape
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Cheeyang Ng’s Legendary Mixtape
Cheeyang Ng selects Sara Bareilles, Lady Gaga, and themself.
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Review: IV – Here & Now Showcase
Fourth piece in dance series struggles to land
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Review: Delusional – I Killed a Man
Diana Salles breathes new life into the trans rebirth metaphor
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Review: Tom at the Farm
A tedious exploration of important issues, despite its epic scale
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Review: The Quiet Earth Beneath
Personal story of memory and bereavement that is visually transporting
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Review: A Small Town Northern Tale
Heartfelt solo piece from writer/performer Nathan Jonathan
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Madeleine Brettingham Wins So You Think You’re Funny? 2025
Writer-turned-performer wins 38th edition of the prestigious newcomer competition
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Review: Athens of the North
Interlinked tales of Scots’ inner lives recall Greek tragedies
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Review: Theo Mason Wood: Legalise Kissing
Tale of a recent break-up with twinkly swagger and a knowing wink
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Review: Daniel Muggleton: You May Be White, I May Be Crazy
Solidly entertaining observations from the easygoing Australian stand-up
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Review: SLUGS
Sweet and strange antics descend into sweaty DIY fever dream
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Review: The Alchemy of Sadness
A fascinating conversation around power imbalances that feels stilted
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Review: JEEZUS!
Fun and filthy musical theatre from Latin America
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Review: Gianmarco Soresi: The Drama King Tour
Joke-a-minute stand-up expertly skirts the line
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Review: Jessica Fostekew: Iconic Breath
Fostekew mines the routinely domestic for comedy gold
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Review: Cirque Kalabanté: WOW (World of Words)
A showcase of true dedication and skill
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Review: Pussy Riot: Riot Days
Raw, unapologetic and defiant show from the Russian protest art collective
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Review: Is There Work on Mars?
Imperfect but delightfully absurd sci-fi storytelling
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Review: I Feel Sick
Matt Jenner’s one-man sketch show falls short
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Review: Ivo Graham: Orange Crush
Light-hearted, citrus coloured zealotry of the non-sectarian kind
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Review: Anatomy of a Night
Performance intended as a “love letter” to queer spaces is thinly conceived
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Review: The Green Knight (But It’s Gay)
Delightfully silly retelling of the medieval classic
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Interview: Emma Frankland
Cover story: In No Apologies, Emma Frankland delves deep into the long-running internet discourse around Kurt Cobain’s gender identity. The writer-performer speaks to Arusa Qureshi about the mythology that surrounds celebrities, the current climate for trans people in the UK and the importance of community
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Review: Tell Me Where Home Is (I’m Starting to Forget)
Slick, self exposing one person show
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Review: Barry Ferns: My Seven Years as Lionel Richie
Scrappy, upstart tale from the Fringe semi-legend
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The Last Word: The Listies
The Australian double act offer up their unparalleled knowledge
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Interview: Khalid Abdalla
Actor and activist Khalid Abdalla discusses his intricate and playful solo show, inspired by his involvement in the Egyptian revolution of 2011
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Review: Score
Rich and deeply intelligent confrontation with technologies of control
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Review: Stepping In… Spilling Out
Gorgeously unfussy performance from dancer Mark Bleakley and percussionist Rémy Gouffault
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Review: I’m Ready to Talk Now
Oliver Ayres’ solo piece is calm, reflective and unsettling
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Review: Thanks for Being Here
Ontroerend Goed’s latest show places emphasis on the camaraderie of collective experience
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Daisy Doris May’s Perfect Night
Three of the comedian and drag king’s iconic characters take us on their big night out
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Review: C U Later, Simulator
Entertaining otherwordly chaos that mirrors the unpredictability of life
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Review: The Ego
A well-pitched exploration of the cut-throat world of screen entertainment
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Kids Review: Cinderella Ice Cream Seller – A Musical
Xavier, six, enters an ice cream parlour
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Kids Review: The Truth About Trees
Siena, eight, enjoys spending time with puppets
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Review: Sam Jay: We the People
Drily delivered subversive takes from the US comedian
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Interview: Zainab Johnson
As she makes her highly-anticipated debut at this year’s Fringe, Zainab Johnson talks politics, identity and being a responsible gun owner
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Review: The Insider
Sonically and visually stunning theatre
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Review: Urooj Ashfaq: How to Be a Baddie
A riotously funny and upbeat insight into deviancy, fuelled by pettiness
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Review: Tiff Stevenson: Post-Coital
Funny and moving show yearns for a stronger build-up to its climax
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Review: Elysium
A remarkable theatrical and musical exploration of personal relationships
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Review: The Nature of Forgetting
Valuable physical theatre with a novel approach to our perception of dementia
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Ben Pope’s Guide to the 5 Fringe Posters He Never Wants to See Again
The comedian and bookseller went viral for sharing the book cover tropes that need to end. We asked him to give Fringe posters the same treatment
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Review: Youth in Flames
A formidable debut from Mimi Martin
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Review: Sikisa: Serving Justice
Satire and hilarity chock-full of audience engagement
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Review: Jonah Non Grata
Simon Kane revives his 20-year-old clown show for its Fringe debut
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Review: Simple Town
Acclaimed New York sketch troupe bring their smart, absurdist act to the Fringe
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Review: Kathy Maniura: The Cycling Man
Ingenious send-up of bike obsessives is a cracking ride
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Review: Jena Friedman: Motherf*cker
Tale of motherhood and grief bristles with righteous anger
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Review: Managed Approach
Moving and original drama based on the UK’s first legalised red-light district
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Review: Giselle: Remix
Fresh update of classic ballet explores importance of queer visibility
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Review: Little Squirt
Darby James’ sperm donation musical has it all
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Interview: Basil Jones and Caden Scott on Faustus
Two plays, one at the Fringe and one at the EIF, take on Marlowe’s tragic Faustus, but in contrasting and confronting ways
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Review: Chloe Petts: Big Naturals
Big laughs come naturally in loving look back at lad culture’s problematic zenith
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Kids Review: The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl
Lyra, nine, is wowed by the two artists
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Young Critics at the Fringe
We sent the Super Power Agency out into the festivals with a group of newly-trained teen reviewers to suss out the best shows for young people this Fringe
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Review: Shamik Chakrabarti: Despite Appearances
Wry humour and a sharp eye for absurdity
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Review: Kanpur: 1857
Effortless and enchanting storytelling from Niall Moorjani
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Review: Wee Man
Barrowland Ballet’s intergenerational show provides a breadth of contributions
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Review: Jackie!!!
An eccentric, fun joyride through a turbulent time
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Review: Because
Measured, clean, and masterful performance from Hassan Govia
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Review: Float
A rich galaxy of complicated emotions in this debut solo show
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Review: The Beautiful Future is Coming
Compassionate but gloomy play about the climate crisis
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Review: The Boy from Bantay
Poignant exploration of despair and loss
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Review: Desiree Burch: The Golden Wrath
An inspirational, inclusive, and thoroughly entertaining hour
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Interview: Ivo Graham
Making multiple appearances at the Fringe and Book Festival this year, Ivo Graham talks through his busy schedule
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Review: Killian Sundermann: This Boy is Cracking Up
Much-loved internet comic dives deeper into his Irish-German upbringing in Fringe debut
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Review: Alright Sunshine
Isla Cowan tackles big topics with a light touch and realistic characters for a hauntingly powerful piece of writing
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Review: Ayoade Bamgboye: Swings and Roundabouts
An absolute lock-in, don’t-miss-a-thing outburst of talent
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Review: Susie McCabe: Best Behaviour
Self-deprecating hour is light on ambition but full of charisma and warmth
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Review: The Burns Project
Warts-and-all telling of Robert Burns’ life makes great use of its unique setting
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Review: Adele Cliff: Adele, Adele, Adele… Cliff It Isn’t the Consequences of My Own Actions
Deftly delivered trove of reliable, if unspectacular, anecdotes from self-professed comedy nerd
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Review: Strangewife
Frazier Bailey’s play intrigues with its unpacking of artifice and modern love
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Review: In the Land of Eagles
Alex Reynolds parses her Albanian ancestry in debut play
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Review: Refuse
Lucy McIlgorm’s tale of a Ukrainian refuse worker is a mixed bag
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Review: Wild Thing!
Wonderfully daft antics give way to bitter eulogy of extinct species
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Review: Bryan Safi: Are You Mad at Me??
A wonderfully goofy show filled with catty one-liners
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Review: Zoë Coombs Marr: The Splash Zone
Charming autobiographical tale deliberately avoids the fast track
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Review: Lily Blumkin: Nice Try
Journey through performer’s past starts strong but fizzles out
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Review: Cecilia Gentili’s Red Ink
New take on Red Ink honours its author’s revolutionary legacy
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Review: Ohio
Haunting harmonies give way to moving exploration of hearing loss
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Review: Paul Sinha: 2 Sinha Lifetime
Savvy and self-aware stand-up from acclaimed brainbox
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Review: Kieran Hodgson: Voice of America
Talented impersonator swipes light-heartedly at US news
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Review: Dream Space
Escapist four-part fantasy for all ages
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MC Hammersmith’s Perfect Day
The hip-hop comedian takes on a day at the Fringe, via rap
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Review: Jo Caulfield: Bad Mood Rising
Acid-tongued hour feels a bit like punching down
-

Review: Strangers and Revelations
Chiedza Rwodzi’s debut play features flawless performances
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Review: Down to Chance
Makeshift tale of earthquake rescue is surprisingly feel-good
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Review: MARIUPOL
Katia Haddad’s play emphasises the human impact of war
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Review: Seaton Smith: Trauma Bonding
Expert room-reading gets huge laughs from tough topics
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Review: Pedro Leandro: Soft Animal
Natural starpower carries gentle hour of comedy
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Review: Copla: A Spanish Cabaret
Dr Alejandro Postigo presents powerful renditions of the songs that made him
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Review: K Mak at the Planetarium
Dreamlike soundscapes meet underwhelming visuals
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Just Good Friends: A Day Out with Trygve Wakenshaw and Barnie Duncan
Evan Beswick spends a day at the Fringe with best pals Trygve Wakenshaw and Barnie Duncan, finding real joy and creativity in their unique partnership
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Review: LOLA: A Flamenco Love Story
Impassioned tale of resilience spans Franco’s Spain and 60s London
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Review: When Billy Met Alasdair
Speculative tribute to two Glasgow icons
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Review: Imago
An incredibly impressive feat of acrobatics, staging, and sound design
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Review: Club NVRLND
A queer-pop fuelled restaging of Peter Pan, full of nostalgic club bangers
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Review: Kim Blythe: Cowboy
The newcomer contends with the screen-to-stage transition in this sharp new hour
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Review: MILES.
A striking play which affirms the complex and brilliant legacy of the artist
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Review: Hot Mess
Entertaining musical romcom about the climate crisis
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Review: HAMLET by New York Circus Project
Innovative and highly visual approach to Shakespeare
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Review: Blaze FM
A moving insight into a significant UK subculture
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Review: Heidi Regan: Jekyll and Heidi
Beautifully crafted, naturally delivered hour of low-key stand-up
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Review: Driving in Circles
Musical theatre show taking audiences from rage and alienation to moments of bliss
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Review: Lucy Pearman: Lunartic
Surprisingly polite hijinks from the frequently brilliant absurdist comic
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Review: Up! by Visible Fictions
All-ages show does a lot with a little
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Review: Another Sight
An immersive piece of theatre in the dark
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Review: Scaramouche Jones
Fringe veteran Thom Tuck revives clown in Justin Butcher’s 20-year-old play
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Review: Anthem for Dissatisfaction
An electrifying reminder of the power of music in trying times
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Review: Joe Kent-Walters is Frankie Monroe: DEAD!!! (Good Fun Time)
‘Yorkshire’s biggest bastard’ returns from the dead for more dishonest fun
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Review: Sinead Walsh: Bye Bye Baby
Warmly delivered tales of navigating growing pains
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Burt Williamson: 104kg of Pure Banter
Cantankerous third hour from off-beat contrarian comic
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Review: SKYE: A Thriller
Sophisticated suspense story from debut playwright Ellie Keel
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Review: James Trickey: Don’t Count On Me
Impressive debut from chartered accountant turned stand up
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Review: She’s Behind You
Scottish panto royalty Johnny McKnight dissects and celebrates the artform
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Review: David’s One-Man Band (F*ck You, Steven)
Musical character comedy that is an ode to mid-noughties emo
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Review: Prashasti Singh: Divine Feminine
A compelling, drily delivered exploration of polite society with enigmatic charm
-

Interview: Michelle Wolf
Back at the Fringe with two Netflix specials, a podcast and an infamous White House Correspondents’ Dinner appearance in tow, Emmy-nominated comedian Michelle Wolf explains why it’s better to be unfiltered
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Review: Ali Brice Presents Eric Meat Gets the Chop
Ali Brice dusts off the suit and tie and returns to his absurdist alter-ego
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Review: Kate Dolan: The Critic
A wild assault of jokes, voices, act outs and asides
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Review: Rosa Garland: Primal Bog
Nonsensical but endearing merging of clowning and comedic performance art
-

Review: Liam Withnail: Big Strong Boy
Tale of leaving home makes for delicately balanced stand-up with huge laughs
-

Gilded Balloon: 40 Years of Funny
As Edinburgh institution Gilded Balloon celebrates its 40th anniversary, some famous faces of decades past write their own love letter to the venue that helped launch so many careers
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Review: Jordan Gray: Is That a C*ck in Your Pocket, or Are You Just Here to Kill Me?
With expectations sky high, Gray stylishly rides out her second rodeo
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The Master’s Perfect Day
A vampire’s guide to enjoying a da– er, night out at the Fringe
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Review: Jumper Bumps
Feminist two-hander is well acted but over-written
-

Review: Ismael Loutfi: Heavenly Baba
A hilarious and confident debut from the Floridian comic
-

Review: Alana Jackson: Last Orders
Confident hour of observational stand-up
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Review: Mind How You Go
Warm, whimsical but frustratingly scattered musical hour
-

Liam Withnail’s Dagenham to Edinburgh Mixtape
Featuring Blood Orange, Billy Bragg, The Proclaimers and more
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Review: Liz Guterbock: Nice
Self-reflective tale of being American in the UK
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Review: Stuart Laws Is Stuck
A brain scrambling kinda-whodunnit from the Fringe veteran
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Kids Review: The Listies: Make Some Noise
Edie, seven, enjoys laughing with The Listies
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Kids Review: The Flying Bubble Show
A mesmerising display of bubbles
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Kids Review: Mr Sleepybum’s Dream Machine
Alvie, four, has a great time with Mr Sleepybum
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Review: Paldem
Writing with the electric chemistry and quickfire wit of a great romcom
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Review: Ozzy Algar: Speed Queen
An ode to Britain’s faded camp glamour set in the Isle of Wight’s last surviving launderette
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Recipe For Success: Polenta with Carne De Sol
What’s in the Kitchen chef Alejandro Huerta offers up a recipe for a dish that captures the essence of Brazil
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Review: Amazons
A trenchant critique of the silencing of women’s voices
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Review: AETHER
Ambitious hour that celebrates the dizzying, vertiginous joy of the unknown
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Review: Josie Long: Now is the Time of Monsters
Long is on terrific form with a deceptively rousing prehistory show
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Review: Circa: Wolf
Exceptional creativity performed with unmatched skill
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Review: Pigs Fly Easy Ryan
Anarchic side-swipe at climate offenders is an energetic oddity
-

Interview: Toussaint Douglass
Cover story: Arriving in Edinburgh for his Fringe debut, Toussaint Douglass talks about being an introvert and why he’ll never be a beanie hat comedian
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Review: Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence
Contemporary spin on Shakespeare’s Macbeth trades in the battlefield for the netball court
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Review: Jaz Mattu: Everyone is Here
A headscratcher that blurs the line between deadpan comedy and performance art
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Review: Scatter: A Horror Play
A florid script with a mixture of sinister folklore and contemporary male anxiety
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Review: Eric Rushton: Innkeeper
Midlander finds dark emotional truth in despair
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Review: Chat Sh*t, Get Hit
Warmly rousing interrogation of female rage
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Review: Caitriona Dowden: Dance Like Everyone’s Dancing
A comic with a charmingly idiosyncratic worldview
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Review: Sibet Partee: Behind
Tale of Tudor obsession is lightly plotted but delivered with gusto
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Review: Douglas Widick: Paperclip
Charming and bizarre nostalgia ride through early internet culture
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Review: The Horse of Jenin
Comedian and theatre maker Alaa Shehada presents his poignant story with irresistible warmth
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Review: A Drag is Born
Edu Díaz’s show is a fun, if underpowered, drag origin story
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Review: BITCH
One of the most committed and acerbic performers at this year’s festival
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Review: The Queen is Mad
An impeccably polished musical theatre three-hander
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Review: Standing in the Shadows of Giants
An intriguing autobiographical portrait of having a superstar sibling
-

Review: Betty Grumble’s Enemies of Grooviness Eat Sh!t
A statement of power, collective catharsis and radical joy
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Review: Consumed
Birthday party-set play is heightened and heavy on cliché
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Review: Jain Edwards: She-Devil
The Welsh-born, Manchester-based comedian combines reality and fiction in an offbeat hour of stand-up
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Review: Laura Davis: Despair is Beneath Us
The Edinburgh-based Australian’s latest is a densely crafted stand-up hour
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Review: Lost Lear
An accomplished, slippery production by Dan Colley that goes beyond the classic
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Review: Molly McGuinness: Slob
An affable and warm debut hour
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Review: Hasan Al-Habib: Death to the West (Midlands)
Infectiously effusive hour from the Birmingham comic
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Review: How to Kill a Mouse
A witty and moving debut hour from American stand-up Alex Berr
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Review: Seymour Mace Does Things With Stuff
An hour of wacky, oddball prop comedy
-

Review: Twonkey’s Zip Wire to Zanzibar
A slice of pure unsullied anything-goes Fringe
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Review: Dan Tiernan: All In
The award-nominated stand-up continues to excel at the long range bait and switch
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Review: Fisherman Jon: What’s on the End of My Rod? A Clown Odyssey
Multifaceted costumes and props make for an endearing clown-odyssey
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Review: Karen Houge: DREAMGIRL
A burlesque show about collective mistrust that is somewhat misjudged
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Review: Phil Green: A Broken Man’s Guide to Fixing Others
A stand-up hour full of class, heart and laughs, but which could do with paring back
-

Review: PHILOSOPHY OF THE WORLD
A brilliantly bonkers, metatextual and high-octane take on outsider artists The Shaggs
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Review: Woody Fu: One Man John Wick
Goofy paean to the ultra-violent action series
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Review: Christopher Macarthur-Boyd: Howling at the Moon
A solid return for the Glasgow comic that revels in self-deprecation
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Review: Cabbage the Clown: Cinemadrome
Debut hour of skilful clownery and queer joy
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Review: Saaniya Abbas – Hellarious
An exploration of sinful actions and cultural taboos
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Review: Dreamscape
A work of hip-hop theatre that is a powerful piece of writing
-

Review: Krystal Evans: A Star is Burnt
An inspiring survival tale about years in hospitality
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Review: Holly Spillar: Tall Child
Engaging musical comedy with an otherworldly charm
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Review: Sooz Kempner is Ugly
After experiencing a tidal wave of mediocre insults online, Sooz Kempner concludes that if you need a job done well, you might as well do it yourself
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Review: How To Win Against History
A slick musical comedy jam-packed with gags and wordplay
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Review: Hypnotist Matt Hale – Funbelievable! 90s Rewind
With the charismatic Matt at the helm, this enjoyable all-ages throwback will appeal to the cynics and believers alike
-

Review: Space Hippo
A striking feat of artistry, Space Hippo’s lack of structure nevertheless leaves it feeling a little dull
-

Review: Bella Hull: Doctors Hate Her
Hull returns to the Fringe, signature sarcasm and mischievous misdirection in tow
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Review: Ayo Adenekan: Black Mediocrity
An incredibly impressive debut hour from the Edinburgh comic
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Review: Helen Bauer: Bless Her
A commanding, hilarious stand-up hour with pathos to boot
-

Review: The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave
A relentless feat of endurance from New Zealand choreographers Oli Mathiesen, Lucy Lynch and Sharvon Mortimer
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Review: Sam Nicoresti: Baby Doomer
A blistering, cathartic and vivid exploration of the trans experience
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Review: Nick Hornedo: Watch This When You Get Home
This tale of teenage crushes has lots of potential, but blows it by burying the lead
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Review: THIS IS NOT ABOUT ME.
This compelling love-story is brought to life by a pair of magnetic performances
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Review: Jonny Woo: Suburbia
Suburbia is a rip-roaring hour of cabaret, memoir and drag from the London stalwart
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Review: KINDER
Reflections on drag, family and kindness make up Ryan Stewart’s complex and graceful show
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Review: I Dream in Colour
A semi-autobiographical, solo snapshot raising questions of bodily autonomy
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Review: Jodie Sloan: Is She Hot?
A unique social media experience is the catalyst for Jodie Sloan’s creative debut
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Kids Review: The Box Show
Three seven-year-olds – Oran, Alba and Roo – share their thoughts on Junkyard Beats’ high energy musical extravaganza
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Review: Mary O’Connell: Dilly Dally
With easy charisma, Mary O’Connell delivers a tightly woven hour about late-twenties growing pains
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Kids Review: Olaf Falafel’s Stupidest Super Stupid Show
Oran and Roo, both seven, are delighted by the sheer volume of poo jokes
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Review: MADONNA ON THE ROCKS
One-woman musical exploring post-partum depression
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Review: Dan Rath: Tropical Depression
Strong joke-writing punctuates a self-conscious, low-energy hour
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Review: Nerds: The Bill Gates vs. Steve Jobs Comedy Musical
Big brash musical about the beginnings of the PC era
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Review: Cat Cohen: Broad Strokes
The Edinburgh Comedy Award winner returns with another tightly crafted hour
-

Review: Derek Mitchell: Goblin
A pitch-black character comedy from Derek Mitchell that nails its period details
-

Review: Sharon Wanjohi: In The House
The comedy writer brings her TV writing chops to the stage, with a debut that takes aim at the wellness industry
-

Review: Rift
Gabriel Jason Dean’s play is an intriguing condemnation of liberal failure
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Review: Her Raving Mind
A gritty three-hander that is at times unfocused, but leaves a lasting impression
-

Review: Pickled Republic
Sentient vegetables face the existential horror of their fast approaching sell-by date
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Review: Kevin James Doyle: Wild Card
An entertaining hour where the audience provides the prompts
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Review: Amy Mason: Behold!
Deadpan and intimate, Amy Mason’s unapologetic show recounts the comic’s absurd experience of being hacked
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Review: The Genesis
Copenhagen Collective’s Fringe debut is a crowd-pleasing spectacle
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Review: Lucky Tonight!
Afreena Islam-Wright looks back on her British-Bangladeshi upbringing via an interactive pub quiz-cum-theatre show
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Review: No Apologies
A defiant and arresting show from Emma Frankland about wishful thinking
-

Review: Kit Loyd: Frenzy
Kit Loyd puts in a committed performance, but strong execution fails to lift his derivative mime show
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Review: Lorna Rose Treen: 24 Hour Diner People
The character comedian outdoes her previous show with another slick hour that blends cringe humour with surrealism
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Review: Relay
Smart and sharp punk musical comedy from writer Leila Navabi
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Review: Andrew Doherty: Sad Gay AIDS Play
Andrew Doherty’s satirical play-within-a-play sends up the nature of arts council funding in the UK
-

Review: Women in Socks and Sandals
Feats of physicality uplift this wordless show from Denmark, which is in need of a stronger through line
-

Review: Dylan Adler: Haus of Dy-lan
Dylan Adler’s delightfully campy, autobiographical hour is just slightly curtailed by over-ambition
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Review: PALESTINE: PEACE DE RESISTANCE
Irish-Palestinian comic Sami Abu Wardeh’s densely layered Fringe comeback roars with defiance
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Review: Voyeur / Samba and Love
São José dos Campos Dance Company brings us a striking double bill which captivates and inspires
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Review: Thor Stenhaug: One Night Stand Baby
Norwegian comedian Thor Stenhaug’s cheerful standup is a welcome dose of positivity
-

Review: Red Like Fruit
A captivating and challenging 75 minutes from Canadian playwright Hannah Moscovitch
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Review: Toussaint Douglass: Accessible Pigeon Material
A brilliant and relatable debut exploring generational weirdness
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Review: Cerys Bradley’s Queer Tales for Autistic Folk
With more structure, Cerys Bradley’s relaxed show about an adult autism diagnosis could become something special
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Review: Old God
There’s something in Alec Jones-Turjillo’s garrulous period pantomime. Maybe too much, in fact
-

Review: Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares
A cathartic, confessional and self-deprecating hour from the Tony Award winner
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Review: Chunky Jewellery
Nuts and touching in equal measure, longtime friends Natasha Gilmore and Jude Williams deliver a bittersweet delight
-

Review: Zainab Johnson: Toxically Optimistic
A confident hour of solo stand-up from the American comic
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Review: Champions
A reflective and meditative portrait that provides an outline of dysfunction
-

Kids Review: Treeeeee
Emmy, four-and-a-half years old, has a good laugh alongside her grown-ups
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Kids Review: Once Upon A Flowerbed
Emmy, four-and-a-half years old, makes some new friends
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Sound of São Paulo Mixtape
The choreographer and dancers behind Voyeur / Samba and Love – part of the São Paulo Showcase – each pick a song from Brazil that inspires them
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Review: jessica aszkenasy: TITCLOWN
A delightfully bizarre hour of clowning and breast-based comedy
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Review: #CHARLOTTESVILLE
A passionate and stirring docudrama from Priyanka Shetty
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Review: John Tothill: This Must Be Heaven
For Tothill heaven is a place on earth, and that place is his sofa with a Rustler’s burger in hand
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Farah Saleh
Farah Saleh’s Balfour Reparations examines the UK’s colonial legacy in Palestine, using a mix of speculative choreography and Afrofuturism
-

Interview: Peter Richardson on The Comic Strip
The writer and director of the cult-classic Comic Strip films explains what audiences can expect from the exclusive screenings at the Fringe
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Interview: All Together Now
Writer/performer Oliver Ayres, Ghent-based company Ontroerend Goed and NYC’s Dutch Kills Theater present shows that blur the boundaries between audience and performer with care and compassion
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Review: Ben Pope: The Cut
Charisma abounds in Ben Pope’s personal and endearingly breathless comeback hour
-

Review: Chokeslam
A detailed, unfiltered one-woman dive into pro-wrestling interwoven with personal insights
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Interview: The Unlikely Friendship and The Mequetrefo
Circus for children needn’t be “glorified childcare”. Fest speaks to two artistically interesting shows aimed at kids but that can be enjoyed by anyone
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Review: Grace Mulvey: Did You Hear We’re All Going To Die?
The Irish comic dances around big subject matter in this follow-up to her debut
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Review: Michelle Brasier: It’s a Shame We Won’t Be Friends Next Year
Another warm and affecting hour of music and storytelling from one of Australia’s finest
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Interview: Cat Cohen on Broad Strokes
Cat Cohen suffered a stroke in 2023, which ended up derailing her Fringe run. Here, the Edinburgh Comedy Award winner talks about coming back with her most personal show yet
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Sutara Gayle (Hackney Showroom)
Powered by high-octane musical numbers, The Legends of Them chronicles Sutara Gayle’s singular, extraordinary life. She answers a few of our questions
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Interview: Local Heroes
Comedians Jack Traynor, Ayo Adenekan, Amanda Hursy and Hannah Morton on what to expect from their inaugural hours
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Interview: Circa’s Yaron Lifschitz and Wright&Grainger
At the Fringe and EIF, two productions take on the classical myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, but in two very different ways
-

Review: Lou Wall: Breaking the Fifth Wall
The Aussie comic takes on the very nature of stand-up with more meme-heavy musical comedy
-

Interview: Nick Nikolaou and Tommy Small
The two artists explain the importance of placing queer joy at the heart of their Fringe shows
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Interview: Crash Theatre Company, Crow Theatre and Song of the Goat
The three companies discuss their new interpretations of Shakespeare
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Lucy McIlgorm
Lucy McIlgorm, one of the stars of Refuse, gives us the rundown on the drama inspired by real stories from Ukraine and shortlisted for BBC Radio 4
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Natasha Gilmore (Barrowland Ballet)
Natasha Gilmore, Artistic Director of Barrowland Ballet, presents two shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year – Chunky Jewellery and Wee Man
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Sam Kissajukian
In 2021, Sam Kissajukian quit stand-up to become a painter. Four years later, he tells us about his new show 300 Paintings
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Interview: Thanyia Moore on August
Returning to the Fringe for the first time since her ill-fated debut, Thanyia Moore reflects on the importance of finding levity in moments of trauma
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Interview: Indra Wilson and Róisín Sheridan-Bryson
With shows that centre LGBTQ+ experience, Indra Wilson and Róisín Sheridan-Bryson explain how queer theatre is the future of the Fringe
-

Interview: Lomond Campbell, K Mak and Wet Hands
The artists discuss the audio-visual projects they’re bringing to the Fringe
-

Interview: Thinking Funny
So You Think You’re Funny? alumni give us the lowdown on their must-see comics at this year’s Fringe
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: SERAFINE1369
IV (4) by SERAFINE1369 – part of the Here and Now showcase – considers cycles, time, divination and decomposition through dance and choreographed performance
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Interview: Su Mi and Cabbage the Clown
Two acts from the BIGHEAD Comedy roster explain why they’ve found a liberating home at the alternative company
-

Interview: Mairi Campbell
As she prepares to perform her acclaimed Pendulum Trilogy in its entirety for the first time, Mairi Campbell talks through the process involved in bringing the shows together
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Interview: Hannah Moscovitch, Kylie Westerbeck and fish in a dress
Three shows explore consent, complicity and control when it comes to women’s bodies
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Interview: Francesca Moody
The producer discusses this year’s Shedinburgh programme and the ethos behind the project
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The Cycling Man’s Guide to Cycling in Edinburgh
Kathy Maniura’s deeply flawed, lycra-clad Cycling Man takes us around Edinburgh on a bike
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Interview: Narin Oz and Ria Lina
Comedians Narin Özenci and Ria Lina discuss how autism can be viewed through different lenses in the same genre
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Nicola Meighan’s Guide to Edinburgh’s Music
The BBC broadcaster and A Kick Up The Arts host takes us around Edinburgh via its music
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Interview: Elisabeth Gunawan and Alfrun Rose
The two creatives discuss how their theatre shows interrogate the possibilities and limits of AI technology
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Interview: Urooj Ashfaq & Joe Kent-Walters
It’s one of comedy’s biggest breaks, but what happens when you‘re nominated for – and win – Edinburgh’s Best Newcomer award? Back with hotly-anticipated follow-up shows, Urooj Ashfaq (2023) and Joe Kent-Walters (2024) break it down
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Frazier Bailey
The Strangewife director answers our questions on the debut production of the play, with its Yorgos Lanthimos-style blend of gallows humour and drama
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Ad Infinitum
George Mann and Ramesh Meyyappan, co-creators of Ad Infinitum’s Last Rites, answer our questions about the show, which is part of the Here & Now Showcase
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Interview: Joe Tracini
Joe Tracini discusses the value of honesty, life with BPD and the five-year journey to his Fringe show
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Alana Jackson’s Guide to Drinking in Edinburgh
The So You Think You’re Funny? 2024 winner gives us the lowdown on her favourite watering holes in the city
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Interview: Betty Grumble & Suhui Hee
Placing the body at the centre of their art, Betty Grumble and Suhui Hee explore how it becomes a tool for performance, activism, pleasure and more
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Interview: Welcome to the Fringe, Palestine
With Welcome to the Fringe, Palestine arriving at Portobello Town Hall this August, festival co-organiser Sara Shaarawi tells us more about the vital showcase
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A Day at the Fringe with Miriam Margolyes
As she returns to Edinburgh with more Dickens and more characters, the iconic actress and author takes us through a typical day at the Fringe
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Lorna Rose Treen’s Guide to Edinburgh Dining
The character comedian gives us a whistle-stop tour of her favourite dining spots in the city
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Interview: Jordan Gray
Hot off the heels of her hit ITV2 comedy Transaction, Jordan Gray talks about her return to the Fringe and her commitment to clowning
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Interview: Let’s Talk About Sex
Comedian Chloe Petts, podcast duo Poppy Jay and Rubina Pabani, and playwright Jules Coyle on inclusive discussions about sex on stage
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Opinion: We Need to Talk About Pelvic Floor Health
Amy Veltman, the NYC comedian and performer behind PSA: Pelvic Service Announcement, is on a mission to destigmatise pelvic floor health
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Edinburgh Fringe 2025 – Top Picks: Kids
From turning movement into music to dazzling aerial delights, there’s something for every young festival lover
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Edinburgh Fringe 2025 – Top Picks: Dance and Circus
Immerse yourself into worlds of imaginative storytelling, from Afrofuturist performance to the migration of birds
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Edinburgh Fringe 2025 – Top Picks: Music
This year’s music selection includes punk theatre, pop comedy musicals and a new gig series
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Edinburgh Fringe 2025 – Top Picks: Theatre
The best theatre at the Fringe, from eco-sexual rebellion to the history of panto
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Edinburgh Fringe 2025 – Top Picks: Comedy
From imposter syndrome to medieval saints, these comedy shows will have you in stitches
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Adapt and Thrive
Award-winning producer-turned-performer Mark Ashmore of Future Artists talks about his return to the Fringe with his new show, Rise of the Solar Punks – a one-hour performative lecture that turns hard climate data into a guerrilla call-to-action
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Alex Reynolds
In the Land of Eagles sees playwright Alex Reynolds take inspiration from her relationship with her grandfather, whose native Albania backdrops her Edinburgh debut
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David Elms Describes a Mixtape
Featuring Brian Eno, Jonathan Richman and more
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Eleanor Higgins
Two girls from opposite worlds are fated to meet in Eleanor Higgins’ powerful theatre piece set in the Noughties queer scene. She answers a few of our questions
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Space Hippo’s Interstellar Mixtape
Featuring David Bowie, The Byrds, Leonard Nimoy and more
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Derek Mitchell’s Emo Mixtape
Featuring My Chemical Romance, Green Day, blink-182 and more
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: World’s Greatest Lover
The creative team behind the musical World’s Greatest Lover come together to answer our burning questions
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Rose Coogan
Ros + Bud is the heartfelt and heartbreaking tale of transitioning in Northern Ireland. We put some questions to its creator Rose Coogan
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Hayley Edwards
Hayley Edwards describes their debut Edinburgh show as ‘Fleabag but about Crohn’s Disease’. We speak to them about their path from hapless drama graduate to critical acclaim in their home country of Australia
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Suzy Crothers
Northern Irish actor and playwright Suzy Crothers tells us about Troubled, ‘a tale of love, death, and division – told with tea and biscuits’
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Opinion: Disability isn’t a Genre
Aaron Pang on his own experiences confronting the sensationalism around disabled narratives and rehabilitation stories
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Saeed Hani (Hani Dance)
The story of Romulus and Remus provides the springboard for Hani Dance’s enchanting production of Inlet, an immersive performance from Luxembourg
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Jammz’s Blaze FM Mixtape
Featuring Wiley, Dizzee Rascal, JME and more
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: David Ian
David Ian’s viral crowdwork clips have him wondering ‘Am I Mean?’. We speak to the comedian about the show
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Lewis Ian Bray (Cartoonopolis)
Cartoonopolis, the hit one-man show from Lewis Ian Bray, is back after a decade. He talks to us about the new-and-improved production
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Jessie Nixon
The self-professed ‘mentally ill, lapsed Catholic’ comedian is putting it all out there in her confessional stand-up hour
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Ismael Loutfi
A stand-up for 15 years, Ismael Loutfi is doing something he’s never done before with Heavenly Baba: A deeper, more complex hour-long reflection on his roots
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Toby Thompson
Toby Thompson tells us about his stage adaptation of The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved family classic
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Michael Elsener
The award-winning Swiss comic brings his off-beat stand-up to the Fringe for the first time. He answers a few of our burning questions
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Patrick McPherson
One half of sketch duo Pear, Patrick McPherson returns to the Fringe with a solo horror play about a man travelling to a Welsh village to scatter his father’s ashes
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Laura Benanti
The Tony Award-winner tells us all about her comedy show which contends with her people-pleasing personality
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Sam Jay
The American comedian and writer chats ahead of her Fringe debut
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Tom Bailey (Mechanimal)
Tom Bailey, one half of Mechanimal, answers questions about their new show Wild Thing!, a sequel to 2019’s Vigil
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Jay Eddy’s Road Trip Mixtape
Featuring Garbage, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Donna Summer and more
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Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Alison Spittle
The Irish comedian and podcaster tells us her top tips for the festival season, and why the male loneliness epidemic is her muse
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Nathan Jonathan’s Y2K Mixtape
Featuring Cascada, DJ Otzi, The Kooks and more





















