Edinburgh Festival

There is nothing quite like the delicious mix of chaos and charm that Josh Burton brings to his gleeful children’s show Signor Baffo. In this riotous kitchen, the audience finds themselves whisked into the clattering, splattering world of a hapless head of washing up who has somehow been left in charge while the formidable Signor Figaro is off sick. From the very first moment, it is clear that nothing will run smoothly, which is precisely what makes the show so irresistible.

Goldspun Media’s Level Up! begins with a promising burst of nostalgic energy. The familiar chimes of Sonic the Hedgehog’s theme and screen visuals give the impression that the audience is in for a sharp, inventive musical about modern life refracted through the lens of gaming. Unfortunately, what follows feels more like a clunky side quest than a main mission.

Adulting Hard! is an energetic stand-up show where Irish comedian Danny O’Brien tells us about his attempts at buying a house in Dublin. It’s a fast-paced set and full of brilliant laugh-out-loud moments.

Caroline McEvoy: Train Man is an honest yet lively stand-up show at the Fringe this year. The show shares the story of Caroline’s younger brother who has autism. He loved trains growing up and even had a successful YouTube channel dedicated to them.

Described by its creator as “50 minutes of vegetable insanity”, this surrealist and entirely enjoyable hour of physical theatre, tragicomedy and puppetry has a certain ‘je nais sais quoi’... or is it giardiniera? Ruxy Cantir brings this zany, piccalilli performance to Summerhall as part of the Made in Scotland showcase. 

An entire sketch comedy show based around real-life graffiti scrawled in toilet cubicles is the sort of premise you could only ever wish to come up with. Unfortunately, for any other sketch comedy groups looking for a good show idea, The Manchester Revue beat you to it. Though I’m sure audiences at this year's Fringe will be appreciative.

An amazing show all round, Guys Sing Dolls, a cabaret style concert, was expertly executed. Four incredible voices blended in perfect harmonies through a selection of well-loved musical theatre songs. There is no plot per se, but the comedic timing with which the singers wove the pieces together kept the audience on their toes.

From the moment Ted Milligan strides on to the stage to the roar of football anthems, the atmosphere is electric. His debut hour, United, is a masterclass in character-led mockumentary, charting the fortunes of the fictional Crubchester United F.C. affectionately known as the Crubs, as they battle to reclaim their place in the league.

In her debut hour, Sharon Wanjohi strides on stage with dynamic energy on a mission to share her comedic mock wisdom. Wanjohi takes aim at the self-help industry, with the precision of someone who finds the guides, and early risers beyond questionable. 

Natalie Grove’s acclaimed solo show Jello Brain—about caring for her mother with early-onset Alzheimer’s—now plays daily at 4:00 p.m. at Olive Studio, Greenside @ George Street, Edinburgh, through August 23. Directed by Terra Mackintosh, the heartfelt and comedic pie

From the creators of Hold On To Your Butts, Recent Cutbacks return with a gloriously inventive UK premiere which transforms an epic fantasy film into a joyous, lo fi theatrical romp. This is not simply a parody but a love letter to the genre, brimming with clever theatrical tricks and affection for its source.

Front Room Productions and Lawrence Batley Theatre present The Uncrackable Case, a courtroom drama which reimagines fairy tale characters in a tabloid-fuelled whodunnit. Humpty Dumpty has fallen from the Death Wall, and Jill is accused of egg-icide in a trial which grips a nation eager for scandal.

Dear Annie, I Hate You is a visceral, captivating account of survival which fuses raw storytelling with inventive theatricality. Written and performed by Samantha Ipema, this semi-autobiographical work confronts the life-altering impact of a brain aneurysm diagnosis at the age of twenty, crafting a narrative which is as darkly funny, as it is deeply affecting.

Dystopian, semi-autobiographical solo show Is There Work On Mars? returns to the Edinburgh Fringe following a successful 2024 run. Multi-disciplinary artist Faye Yan opens the show in a testing lab where she undergoes a series of bleep tests, personality assessments and interview questions in her endeavour to gain employment in the legal team for Nylon Tusk’s SpaceY programme. 

Luigi: the Musical – a new comedy inspired by the reality of Luigi Mangione, Sam Bankman-Fried, and Diddy all being incarcerated in the same federal facility—has become a sold-out hit that’s now headed to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

What did our critic think of EDINBURGH DAYS at St Bride's Centre?

Jacob Nussey makes his Fringe debut with his stand-up show Primed where he shares stories from his time working at Amazon. With impeccable deadpan delivery that will have the audience in constant laughter, this is a standout set at this year's Fringe.

After years of writing for Michael Che and Colin Jost on Saturday Night Live, KC Shornima proves that some of her greatest material comes from writing for herself.

Chloe Petts love of Big Naturals, regales with a bold and brilliantly crafted hour, in which she tackles her favourite body parts, questions her previously entrenched relationship with lad culture and inspects her own evolving identity.

In her triumphant return to the Fringe, Amy Annette brings Busy Body to The Baby Grand, a shipping container transformed into an intimate comedy boudoir, complete with a floral display and the nostalgic welcoming harmonies of The Andrews Sisters

Dream Space by Creative Group SSAK is a shimmering piece of theatrical magic, transforming the everyday into the extraordinary through inventive puppetry, music, and movement. From the moment the playful kazoo ensemble opening sets the tone, the production invites audiences of all ages into its surreal island world, where the line between reality and fantasy melts away.

The Revel Puck Circus’s latest collaboration with Underbelly is set in the faraway land of the Circus Hub on the Meadows in Edinburgh, in a sweet, acrobatic retelling of The Ugly Duckling.

Stephen Buchanan returns to the Fringe with his new hour, Cold Meat, where he brings dark humour and well-crafted jokes to the Edinburgh stage.

In 45 minutes, Can't Talk Right Now, a sung-through musical, explores the complexities of human nature and finding what you want from life. It’s a tight squeeze, but beautifully and heartbreakingly executed. Jen Cassidy effortlessly draws us into her reality, creating a loveable main character as well as painting a picture of everyone who doesn’t appear on stage.

Rajiv Karia’s Man Alive! is a thoughtful and sharply observed hour, which asks big questions with a light, playful touch. Karia discusses male friendships, issues around maintaining contact, social connection and weaves this into the everyday irritations and anxieties of modern life and with a lens of warmth, wit, and self-deprecation, skilfully keeping the audience laughing consistently.