EDINBURGH 2026: Review: CELYA AB: WE MUST STOP MEETING LIKE THIS, Monkey Barrel

When it comes to the Fringe, you’ll find that most comedians tend to all follow the same introduction. It’s your standard “please put your hands together and welcome to the stage…” type of intro; some of whom introduce themselves and others have someone announce it for them. Not Celya AB, though. Instead, she allows the epic tune of "O Fortuna" to blast out over the speakers as she walks through the curtains with a dramatic flair often reserved for the great movie villains. Upon entering the stage, she swiftly cuts the music and, almost under her breath, admits, “You know, it turns out you can just use that song.” 

Talk about an entrance. But, before you can even begin to unpack what you just saw, the comic dives straight into a whole routine about the Arsenal champion’s parade, which catches the audience so off guard that they can’t help but laugh at how random the show feels already.

It immediately sets the tone for the rest of the gig, and Celya never once sways from it, leaving the crowd in a constant state of uncertainty. From one moment to the next, she can go from asking you how long you’ve gone without having sex to suddenly diving into a monologue about her own insecurities. Such sudden switch-ups can certainly lead to laughter at points, but it can also leave the show feeling a little unpolished. Given that We Must Stop Meeting Like This centres on the stand-up’s search for validation, the erratic nature of her writing is certainly fitting but undoubtedly won’t work for everyone.

Naturally, given the SNL UK writer’s standing in the world of comedy, it should come as no surprise that there are moments of brilliance sprinkled throughout the show. Perhaps the highlight comes when Celya is considering how kind men must feel knowing that they might still make women feel unsafe. Pondering a solution, the comedian asks, “How did big groups of men make women feel safe? Well, I’ve never been scared of a barbershop quartet.” 

We Must Stop Meeting Like This might not be Celya AB’s finest hour, but it’s certainly one of the most unique shows you’ll catch at this year's Fringe. 

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