Parasocial Activity Wins Fringe First Award
The winners were announced yesterday
ALL-FEMALE IDENTIFYING, WORKING-CLASS CREATIVE TEAM WIN THE SCOTSMAN FRINGE
FIRST FOR PARASOCIAL ACTIVITY
New comedy about celebrity obsession and the internet receives one of Edinburgh Fringe’s most prestigious awards
Edinburgh, August 2026 — Parasocial Activity, a new solo comedy created by an all-female identifying, working-class creative team, has been awarded The Scotsman Fringe First at the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Written and performed by Greenock born actor Briony Martha and produced by GALLUS and Silly Mission Productions, Parasocial Activity is a funny, unsettling and sharply observed exploration of celebrity obsession, loneliness, ambition and the increasingly blurred boundaries online and real life.
At its heart is Jenny: a Scottish actor living in London who has met the love of her life — James McAvoy — in a Glasgow Costa. What begins as a seemingly harmless celebrity crush develops into an increasingly obsessive journey through the internet, desire and fantasy.
Described by its creator as “Bridget Jones’ Diary” meets “You”, Parasocial Activity asks what happens when the person we think we know becomes more real to us than the person standing in front of us.
This emerging creative team of working-class women have built their careers within an industry where background, access and financial security can have a significant impact on who gets to make work and whose stories get heard. Parasocial Activity represents their commitment to creating ambitious, Original Theatre outside traditional structures and bringing new voices to the forefront of the Fringe.
Writer and Performer Briony Martha says ‘I’m incredibly overwhelmed and grateful to receive a Fringe First for my debut solo show. In a festival where there is so much talent being showcased I feel very proud and honoured to have my work recognised in this way.
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For Hannah Leonard (of Silly Mission Productions), an emerging commercial theatre producer and Stage One-supported producer, the production is part of a wider commitment to developing bold new work and supporting artists to tell stories that might not otherwise receive a platform.
Hannah says “It has been an absolute honour to guide Briony through this journey and watch her talent be received just as I knew it would be. We have come to fringe with no marketing budget, a minimal set and a costume off of Vinted so to be recognised with some of the big names of Edinburgh Fringe is beyond what we could have imagined.’
GALLUS, a Scottish based Production company led by Shelley Middler and Étáin Saoirse Sweeney are thrilled to have made their Fringe debut with this co-production and say “As a brand-new company bringing this show to the Edinburgh Fringe, winning a Fringe First Award is an incredible milestone. We couldn't be prouder of this production and of Briony for her immense achievement, her extraordinary work made this possible. We are honoured to be part of her journey and to share this moment with her.
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Parasocial Activity is currently playing at The Penny, Patter House, Edinburgh, from 5–31 August 2026 (excluding 17th and 24th) at 5.40pm.
Photo credit: Hannah Leonard
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