Fringe 2025

Climate change, but make it musical. Hot Mess takes on the relationship between Earth and Humanity and spins it into a love-hate duet that’s as messy as the title suggests. There’s plenty to enjoy here—gorgeous design, powerhouse vocals, and some striking technical work—but it doesn’t always feel fully baked. Ellie Coote’s direction keeps the show tight and impactful; it’s never confused about what it wants to say. The staging feels intentional and well-paced, which is no sma

If you've ever sat through a courtroom drama and thought, “Could this be...punchier?”—well, The Uncrackable Case dances right up that line. It’s intermittently serious, occasionally pantomime-level goofy, and maybe it could benefit from choosing a side… but then again, maybe the confusion is part of the charm? The direction by Olivia Race is solid but not awe-striking. At times, the staging felt slightly muddled—like the show was trying to spring surprises but forgot the map.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live in the constant loop of auditions, side-eye from industry gatekeepers, and the occasional breakdown on a chaise longue, Sophie Fisher’s An Ode to the Casting Director has you covered. It’s funny, raw, and painfully relatable—whether or not you’ve ever had to slate your name into a void. The direction by Linda Ludwig was clean, clear, and confident. The staging felt natural and un-fussy—no contradictions, no over-complication. Jus

If you like your theatre with a side of jaw-dropping acrobatics and a sprinkle of “how on earth are humans doing that with their bodies?”, then Circa’s Wolf is going to make your Fringe. Directed by Yaron Lifschitz, the show is slick, smart, and visually stunning. The choreography hits that sweet spot between sharp precision and raw physicality, while Libby McDonnell’s costumes—black and dark gold waves—look like something out of a mythical fashion week (if wolves hosted it,

A comedy set in a post office using carrier pigeons in the run-up to a debate on whether to keep the pigeon post alive or not. Tensions run high between two employees on opposing sides of the debate, as the very fate of pigeon mail is in the balance. Come on down to help save our pigeon mail (or do it in), this short play invites us into a novel yet familiar world. Royal Pigeon Mail is a quirky little play with some fun ideas and flashes of wit, but it never quite takes fligh

The Black Blues Brothers are back, and once again they’ve turned circus into pure party. This is a show that doesn’t just perform at you—it sweeps you up and dares you not to grin the whole way through. The set is as clever as ever: styled like a train station café, it’s both stylish and sneakily practical. Props and chalk are tucked away so neatly you don’t notice them at first—until they’re suddenly whipped out and transformed into part of the act. It’s efficient, inventive

This tells the story of ardent football fan Billy Kinley, who sticks a flare up his bum at Euro 2020 and goes viral. What follows is a funny, raw and honest look at identity, loyalty and belonging. One flare. One man. One bum... One story. Don't miss it! Sometimes a show comes along at the Fringe that’s so sharp, so brilliantly executed, and so wildly entertaining that you sit there thinking: yep, this is why I came to Edinburgh. This is one of those shows. The direction was.

Nerds is a show with big ideas, clever staging, and some strong performances… but like an overloaded hard drive, it sometimes struggles to keep everything running smoothly. The direction and choreography (Nick Winston) were solid—mostly sharp, occasionally a little odd, but always energetic. The choreography especially stood out, giving the piece some real flair. Design-wise, the production was genuinely impressive. Sophie Pardon’s costumes struck a great balance: unified eno

Me: Please introduce yourself and how you first get involved with Spy Movie? Matt: Well, I am one of the writers of the show, so you could say I was involved from the very beginning, but I'm also a performer as well. So Jack and I met doing theatre. We worked together on a show and then we had written one show together for Trinity for their Christmas show called The New Musketeers, which was really good fun. We were working with a couple of other people as well. Jack and I we

A drought has been plaguing the crops of Tobias's farm for five years. He believes that the answer to where the water went lies in the soil. Katherine believes the answer lies in the desert and canyons surrounding the farm. One night, Katherine goes into the canyon in search of the missing water, but what happens when a flash flood comes and washes everything away? Sound of Water is proof that you don’t need an elaborate set to create an atmosphere—mainly because this show ha

Abracadabra Bitch is a show that does exactly what it says on the tin: it waves a wand, shouts some sass, and hopes the magic lands. And, for the most part, it does. The direction was fine—nothing ground-breaking, but it kept things moving. The set was charmingly minimal: a teddy, a TV screen, and a smattering of props. Not exactly Vegas, but hey, it left room for the performer’s personality to fill the stage (which it absolutely did). Technically, the show was tight. Lightin

Some shows arrive with a bang; this one feels more like ordering a cappuccino and realizing they forgot the foam. Pleasant, enjoyable in parts, but missing a little polish to make it truly stand out. The direction was solid, but not particularly adventurous. It kept the story moving, but there weren’t any moments that felt especially inventive or surprising. Lighting followed the same, functional, but never stepping into the kind of bold choices that could have elevated the m

The forgotten story of Amadeus' genius sister, who performed alongside him to equal acclaim. Set in a stunning 18-foot dress, this multi award-winning production ushers you into a world of opulence and delight - obscured by restriction and prejudice. Inspired by the Mozart family's hilarious and heartbreaking letters, Nannerl Mozart finally tells her story. Walking into the theatre for feels less like taking your seat and more like stepping into history wrapped in couture. Th

Some Fringe shows make do with a chair, a table, and a lot of imagination. A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception laughs at that idea and rolls out one of the most ambitious sets I’ve seen at the festival. Scaled back from its touring version, sure — but even so, it’s still a lavish, detailed design that feels like it belongs on a much bigger stage. That sense of polish carries through the whole production. The direction is tight and confident, keeping the farce sharp an

Potty the Plant is delighfully unhinged in all the best ways – a dark comedy that leans into its weirdness and rewards you for coming along for the ride. The direction is mostly sharp and purposeful. A couple of entrances and exits had me scratching my head but honestly, that’s nitpicking. For the most part, it’s clear, confident, and keeps the chaos under control without ever feeling rigid. Lighting was gorgeous though. It nails the mood of every scene, and Dr. Acular’s entr

The Box Show certainly delivers on its title—there are a lot of boxes. Small ones with spray-painted graphics, a giant one on wheels that gets rolled around like a reluctant supermarket trolley, and even a bowl of water perched on top. Add a few bins and tubes and other household things that make sound, and you’ve got the set. Things kick off with some light audience interaction and a made-up language exchange between the cast. Unfortunately, the nonsense chatter never really

Strap in for an hour of improvised comedy hosted by two of the UK’s masters of improvisation, with their very special guests. Expect fast, fabulously funny improvised games, scenes, stories and laugh-out-loud surrealism. I’ll be honest: that description doesn’t oversell. If anything, it’s modest—and with good reason. Paul Merton & Suki Webster’s Improv Show keeps the stage wonderfully uncluttered: just a keyboard, four chairs neatly arranged (two on either side), and atmosphe

'EXCLUSIVE: ELTON IN VICE BOY SHAME'. When Elton John, 39, is falsely accused of bonking prostitutes, he launches Britain's largest libel lawsuit. But The Sun editor finds sorry the hardest word, and tries bullying the Rocketman into submission with a blistering campaign of Media harassment. Elton faces punch-ups, gangsters, bugged phone calls, a 10-million pound divorce suit and a pair of Devil Dogs. Will he remain still standing? Or will The Sun go down on him? Based on a t

Cake or biscuit? The eternal question that famously went all the way to a 1991 tribunal to settle the great Jaffa Cake debate. Gigglemug Theatre’s family-friendly musical comedy dives headfirst into this delicious dilemma—and it’s surprisingly fun. The show starts off on the right note—literally—with a cast member already on stage tickling the ivories as the audience files in, setting a lively and inviting atmosphere from the get-go. The musical keeps up a brisk pace, with th

Trash Test Dummies might not quite hit the mark from the get-go — but hang in there, because it does find its groove eventually. The direction felt a bit… well, “just okay.” Nothing really popped or dazzled in terms of storytelling or pacing, but it did the job without major hiccups. The set was a quirky jumble of bins, ladders, and an assortment of balls in various sizes — definitely a creative use of everyday objects, though I was left wondering if the bins were there for r