Otto & Astrid: The Stages Tour ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Berlin's dysfunctional sibling Prince and Princess of art rock and Europop. Taylor Swift had Eras. Otto & Astrid go through stages. A lipstick-smeared sonic collision between The B-52s, Pixies, Kraftwerk, and early Ramones. Ridiculously catchy, blisteringly funny and surprisingly heartfelt. Think Tenacious D's absurdity meets Spinal Tap's incompetence, with Oasis-level combustibility. Fast, loud and impossible to look away from.

The costumes are a riot in the very best way. Sitting somewhere between glam rock and clowncore, the bold black-and-red palette instantly establishes the wonderfully chaotic world these siblings inhabit. Just when you think you've seen everything, another costume appears, keeping the visual gags as fresh as the comedy itself. Every design choice feels deliberate, strengthening the personalities rather than simply dressing them.

The lighting design remains another standout. Rather than remaining hidden in the background, it becomes an active participant in the performance. The exchanges between the performers and the lighting operator are consistently hilarious, breaking theatrical convention without ever feeling like a gimmick. It gives the show a fresh, contemporary edge whilst creating striking stage pictures that complement the high-octane energy from start to finish.

The sound design is largely excellent, allowing the band's infectious rock sound to fill the room. However, there are a handful of moments where the vocals become slightly lost beneath the music. In most gigs that wouldn't matter, but this isn't only a concert, it's comedy. When punchlines are buried inside song lyrics, some of the biggest laughs inevitably fall through the cracks. Thankfully, it's only occasional, but tightening that balance would elevate the show even further.

The writing is where the production really finds its identity. Yes, the songs are ridiculously catchy, but it's the wonderfully dysfunctional sibling relationship that keeps everything moving. The arguments, petty digs and constant power struggle between Otto and Astrid stop the concert format from ever becoming repetitive, while Otto's desperate longing to perform his own music gives the madness a surprisingly sweet emotional backbone. A couple of the longer comedic pay-offs do slightly overstay their welcome, with jokes occasionally pushed one beat beyond their natural landing point, but the show's fast pace quickly helps it find its rhythm again.

The performances are simply short of brilliant. Musically, they're hugely impressive, but it's their comic chemistry that makes this production soar. Every eye-roll, interruption and perfectly timed insult feels instinctive, as though these siblings have spent a lifetime annoying each other, which, of course, is exactly the point. They constantly discover new moments to surprise both each other and the audience, making even throwaway interactions hilarious. Beneath all the chaos, there's a real warmth that stops the characters ever becoming caricatures, making you oddly invested in whether these two can survive another gig together.

This is musical comedy at its wonderfully anarchic best. Loud, gloriously silly and packed with brilliantly memorable songs, The Stages Tour somehow manages to be both utterly ridiculous and unexpectedly heartfelt. It embraces theatrical havoc without ever losing control, delivering an hour of infectious fun that leaves you grinning well after the final encore. Otto & Astrid don't just put on a gig, they create an experience that's as unpredictable as it is entertaining.

They are heading to the Edinburgh Fringe at Assembly Roxy from 5th to 30th August (excluding 12th, 19th and 26th August) at 9:15pm. You can book your tickets now and find more information via: https://assemblyfestival.com/what s-on/otto-astrid-the-stages-tour