Edinburgh Fringe 2026 Reviews

Rating	Show Details	Review
★★★★⯪ Excellent	To My Wife's Next Lover Dream Big Kid Productions Clover Studio at Greenside @ Riddles Court 21:50-22:50	This is a remarkable, powerful, if unsettling play - looking at the tensions in a relationship, and the impact of the past on the future and the future on the present. Set in two parts, either side of the death of a husband, the play and performance held many tensions together; it lit up the things we willingly, or even unhappily, sacrifice for a real, lasting, if time-limited, love. The solo performance was sheer artistry.
★★★★⯪ Excellent	Goodbye Dandelion Maddie and Marcus Rice, Charlotte Pleasants and Underbelly Belly Dancer, Underbelly Cowgate 16:10-17:10	This is up there in the top fringe shows I have seen over a long while. This is storytelling at its greatest by brother and sister Maddie and Marcus Rice, with twists and turns, musical interjection, and comic moments alongside emotive storytelling. They know how to capture an audience. Modern audiences are too quick to standing ovate. But it was very well deserved here. It was very slick and gripping.
★★★★⯪ Excellent	Cathy Traverse Theatre Company Traverse 1 18:30-18:40	It was wonderful to see a full play, with a solid cast, set changes and everything that a big stage can bring. There is always more dynamic in these larger productions than a solo show. Here the domestic tragicomedy themes were tried and tested: family dynamics in a Scottish Catholic family. With wonderful characterisation - impressive for a one-hour show - we see the family dynamics and tensions bounce and evolve. It is a very human play; we can relate to most of the characters, and put ourselves in their shoes. The theme is the changing face of grief, and though it is hard to cover that in 60 minutes without it losing a real sense of time, the play manages to do so, partly through a number of good set tricks which illustrate the passage of time beautfifully.
★★★★⯪ Excellent	Mark Thomas: 40 in Stand-Up Years Mark Thomas / Tin Cat Entertainment Ltd Stand 1 at The Stand Comedy Club 18:05-19:05	Admittedly it is comedy from my era, but this was potent and very funny - Mark Thomas at almost his best. But Mark Thomas at his best is outstanding, so this was still brilliant. It perhaps doesn't have the cutting politic that his best performances over the last 40 years have had (his critique of US and UK defence policy about 20 years ago still rings in my ears), but this show was certainly as funny as ever, and a little more personal than his performances of yesteryear.
★★★★⯪ Excellent	Wolf of Poyais Blue Bar Roxyboxy at Assembly Roxy 20:30-21:30	The Wolf of Payais tells a potent and humorous story unsettlingly based on the true story of Gregor MacGregor, a notorious and deadly 19th century conman. Given as a get-rich-quick lesson, the play picks on the attitudes that such people must have to go to the lengths they do.
★★★★⯪ Excellent	Bebe Cave: Swoon IGHEAD Comedy Jack Dome at Pleasance Dome 17:40-18:40	This is the second year of seeing Bebe Cave in action. A one person show with many characters, this was funny, pantomimic, carefully choreagraphed chaos, with audience asides and quick fire references: even if you get a third of them you would be constantly amused. Bebe Cave is the epitome of the Fringe. I think she is a must see at some point.
★★★★☆ Very Good	Pink Rabbit Farah Ashraf and NAZAR Arts, Little Stitch Productions Daisy at Underbelly, Bristo Square 16:15-17:15	A look at family relationships within a single parent Pakistani familiy and its impact on teenage desires. A well performed play, foillowing an 18 year old who finds their way into onine sex performance, and the impact on self worth. The show feels fairly standard but packs some punches towards the end which lifts it beyond a simple tale.
★★★★☆ Very Good	Constellations Theatre33 Space 2 at theSpace on the Mile 16:10-17:05	A clever set of light-changing hexes on the floor form the base for an exploration of the "multiverse" of a relationship of two lovers. In reality it provides snippets of the subtle way different life events can play out - the different ways things can be said, the different tones that can be used. This was a clever, interesting and unusual work, and will be memorable for being that little bit different.
★★★★☆ Very Good	Mrs Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library Luna Stage, Richard Jordan Productions in association with Traverse Theatre Traverse 2 20:30-21:50	A three-part play that was slick and engaging and while it was not very believable, it did not have to be. Set at the end of the Weimar Republic and the early stages of Nazi rule, this focus on philosopher and activist Hannah Stern (Arendt) was a slow burn non-climactic play really looking at the process by which Mrs Stern tries to convince a guard of her innocence, not via arguments, but by character and play. It was beautiful to watch the slow changes in perspective. The charm was that even as an audience member I was left a believer. It was the play equivalent of Penn and Teller doing the cups and balls trick with glass cups in slow motion. The ending was unlikely in the context provided, but it had to end somehow.
★★★★☆ Very Good	YOAH Underbelly, Cirquework and Cluster Arts The Lafayette at Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows 20:40-21:40	Breathtaking acrobatics are copuled with juggling and diablos with interesting coordinating lightwork. A stunning, enjoyable and, at times, tense show. If you want comparisons, it was not in my opinion up there with Circa Wolf, but still very much worth a see.
★★★★☆ Very Good	Alan Bissett: The Red Hourglass Alan Bissett Stand 2 at The Stand Comedy Club 2 12:20-13:20	The very capable Alan Bissett brings a number of lab spiders and insects to life as humorous caricatures. Very well done indeed.
★★★★☆ Very Good	Forge Tom Oakes/Brite Theatre George Mackay Brown Library at Scottish Storytelling Centre 20:00-21:00	Very much one for traditional music fans. Tom Oakes, an Edinburgh multi-instrumentalist - originally from Devon, family roots from Ireland, and married to Kolbrún Björt Sigfúsdóttir - weaves family throughout this show. A wonderful mix of traditional music from different places, and self-composed birthday tunes, all with deep and well-researched back-stories. Inspiring folk music and a strong sense of presence – sometimes with words or stories juxtaposed. A small and cosy venue, that is in no way awkward, Tom engages with the audience in simple conversational tone – comfortable but thought provoking. There will be different songs each night.
★★★★☆ Very Good	Adam Riches: The Captain Park Theatre Productions and Tigco present Dissection Room at Summerhall 19:00-20:00	Excellent storytelling, and a study on the nature of personal achievement, the fickle public and how achievement itself, however great, can lose its sense of worth.
★★★⯪☆ Good	A Microscopic Odyssey Mycelium Theatre Company Pleasance Courtyard - Beside 11:35-12:35	An original and interesting show. This amateur production packs a lot of variation in form into one hour of show. It is the sort of show that make the Fringe different from the average theatre. An ensemble show at the fringe is a rarity and as such this enables more interesting interactions. The story of James Weiss told with shadow visuals, dance, flashbacks, and trying to catch a sense of wonder. The only downside is the venue is noisy and poorly structured. Visibility is poor from the majority of seats in the venue, and they have not adapted the show (so far) to compensate for this.
★★★⯪☆ Good	Alan Bennett's Talking Heads The Next Act The Speakeasy at The Speakeasy at The Royal Scots Club 19:40-20:40	Depending on the performance, you see different pairs of these four shows. I saw "Her Big Chance" and "Cream Cracker Under the Settee". Both are a bit dated now, but still potent. Her Big Chance was good - somewhat overacted and lacking variety (it can get away with this a bit as it is presenting an actor) but still powerful in its own way! Its a powerful script contrasting what we are willing to overlook, or what ideations we read into or even to push into a setting to maintain our own sense of value. Perhaps some of us recognise this in our own (hopefully different) workplaces. Cream Cracker under the Settee was less powerfully presented, but is still a good reflection on loneliness and how we can build our own isolation. Altogether definitiely worth a see.
★★★⯪☆ Good	Waving Dogs in Wellies Stephenson Theatre at theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall 19:45-20:35	A play nominally about a mother suffering from dementia but actually as much about memories, past perceptions and how time plays out. Played backward in time, mirroring the memory regression of the disease, we see three characters converge backwards in time, leaving the lingering feeling of what might have been. A mostly solid and well written performance - the gallery scene is a little stilted but otherwise it held up. Acting quality was a little mixed - two of the cast were very strong. Lacking the layers and more climactic elements of great shows, it still quietly conveys its simple message, tinged not so much with regret as a simple recognition that time does its own work, whatever we do.
★★★⯪☆ Good	1 Night at Ford's Theatre Eclipsing Stars Lauriston Pl, Bubble at Rotunda Theatre 18:00-19:00	This musical felt like a Hamilton wannabe - but it was good for an amateur performance, diving into a different perspective on the Lincoln assassination. I very much enjoyed it. Not all the singers quite hit the mark, but it didn't spoil the enjoyment, and it was wonderful to have a large cast show with multiple musicians to boot.
★★★⯪☆ Good	Collaborator Ockham's Razor produced by Turtle Key Arts Pentland Theatre at Pleasance at EICC 17:00-17:55	Veterans of the fringe, Ockham's Razor's Artistic Directors Alex and Charlotte return after a long hiatus for a varied program of aerial and ground acrobatics, along with signature pendulum and gravity acts. The poise of the first aerial performance was excellent.
★★★⯪☆ Good	Gail Porter: Portergeist Gail Porter Drawing Room at Assembly Rooms 18:25-19:25	A refreshing set of tales for those born vaguely around 1970s UK. Others might miss a lot. Scots will get more still. Both comic and reflective of the 50 years of life in a era of "If it didn't kill you...". When the best show in town was Asda moving to opening 24/7. Funny but not just funny. Cathartic for those who don't want to go back, but are also aware of what has been lost over that half century.
★★★☆☆ Fair	For Delores Fishamble in association with Belltable, GIAF and Traverse presents Traverse 2 13:00-14:20	A solid performance - two very different room-sharing female friends are telling their story - of relationships, friendships, fiancés, lovers, family, death and more. Solidly acted, well scripted, but at the same time abounding in cliches, shallow characters, and emotional tugs on the audience that are too overt and extended to bring me on board. For this reason, it didn't hit home for me.
★★★☆☆ Fair	Sam Eley is Basil Crumbwick: Soul Sewage BIGHEAD Comedy Monkey Barrel 2 at Monkey Barrel Comedy 21:55-22:55	Sam Eley pulls out his character comedy again. Plenty of good lines from the an unfortunately recognisable malcontent. Not quite deserving of the hype. but a fair show.
★★★☆☆ Fair	Wiesenthal NJNG Productions & Seabright Live Gilded Balloon Teviot - Dining Room 13:15-14:25	The tale of Wiesenthal is here very well done - well told and well acted. Very firmly in the class of "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it" shows. But I personally find any show like this that deliberately avoids reference to what is happening in Gaza problematic. Many other modern genocide activities are mentioned, but Gaza gets no mention at all. Sadly remembering the past is not enough.
★★★☆☆ Fair	Homunculus ECC Big at theSpaceTriplex 21:40-22:35	A mad, ridiculous and over-the-top farce, written in a style as if it were a modern adaption of an an ancient text (it is not). Fun, silly and pantomimic, some parts of this show are just far too overacted even for this. It is late in the day, so likely attendees are a few beers in. But I think I'd need a few more to fully appreciate this. Happy to have seen.
★★★☆☆ Fair	PACE Below Zero Meadows Circus Hub 11:10-12:10	A simple, mild and capable acrobatic show illustrating aspects of a relationship - cooperation, disagreement, need, exhaustion, care, and so on. If you are along for dramatic acrobatics, this is not the place to come, but for a show that weaves thematically consistent acrobatic dance it does the job okay. A bit too much repetition and filler, and gentle rather than dramatic, it might lose audience engagement in parts but it still has its moments. Happy to have seen, but there are better offerings out there.
★★★☆☆ Fair	How Not to Make it in America House of Oz and Theatre Republic Former Gents Locker Room at Summerhall 21:20-22:20	A well acted solo storytelling performance of a bad-to-worse variety, looking at what we feel when we fill in the backstory to a 2 minute audition rejection. Sadly, the qulaity of the acting was not well matched by the script which was a bit too repetitive and one dimensional for an hour.
★★★☆☆ Fair	DUSK/NIGHT/DAWN VERTICAL DREAMSCAPE Central at Assembly Roxy 21:30-22:30	A two-person pole-dancing show, with impressive pole dancing with good variety. The filler was necessary for the dancers, but a little random and drawn out. The show was let down by much of the dance being in the dark with the light shining right into the audience, making it both impossible to see and unconfortable.
★★★☆☆ Fair	Michael Shafar: Inapporpriate Michael Shafar Beehive 1 17:45-18:30	Michael Shafar was not quite up to last year's standards, and there was some overlap, but it was a good hour of Michael using an Australian's perogative to say the inappropriate.
★★★☆☆ Fair	A New Blend at the Royal Oak: Joe Jedson Joe Jedson Lounge at The Royal Oak 16:30-17:30	Joe Jedson (previously Joseph Martyn, now Joe Jenson) comes with his own cosy set but also two other songwriters he gives space to. A pleasant hour of musical sharing.
★★★☆☆ Fair	Amelia Hamilton: Moral Support Impatient Productions Baby Grand at Pleasance Courtyard 20:20-21:20	This was an energetic performance with a mix of chat and rap-style comedy from a relatively new comic. It is funny in parts - one or two good lines. The topic is a bit hit and miss - stealing clothes off exes, cheating, etc.
★★⯪☆☆ Okay	Krapp's Last Tape Stockard Channing and David Westhead Assembly Roxy Upstairs 13:25-14:15	Krapp's Last Tape is a monodrama of Samuel Beckett that certainly splits opinions. The play can convey some sense of the action of age and time in cleaving both a man and his memories and how different selves are dissonant with one another. However, to get to that point, the audience has to make it through, or even gel with, the somewhat tedious absurdity of the early play, and the mechanical repetitive nature of the play as a whole. Achieving this is a challenge (some might say an impossible one), but doing so involves providing complete clarity of the tape content, and the real contrasts with the current character of Krapp over different repeated listens. I preferred Pinter's take: axing the grating banana scene from the beginning and giving time to the tapes to aid the clear reflection on that. Here unfortunately, the earlier parts drag so much that by the time the self-recording comes, the audience requires such high redemption from the earlier monotony that the play will not deliver. In this production, some sense of contrast of older and younger Krapp is lost. But this was very capable directing, and very capable acting, so some of the difficulties lie in the play itself and ironically in the passage of time – the idea of using tapes in the play was a wonder in 1958 that transfers badly to 2026. The Beckett estate requires strict adherence to Beckett's original obsessive instruction. Or maybe it is the faulty opinion of a reviewer living in an age that has lost patience... Would I have thought the same 30 years ago? I wonder – perhaps I should dig out box three, spool five. Spoool.
★★⯪☆☆ Okay	Confirmation Sponsor Variety Hour Emma Quinlan Baxter and Fenton Lio Stephenson Theatre at theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall 22:45-23:35	I was handed free tickets for this, so the expectations were not high. It was a weirdly catholic-marketed show, that even more embarrasssingly had the mums introducing their childrens' acts. However Emma Baxter was a not-bad comic for a newbie amateur - she needs a bit more variety to her themes, but she might go further. Fenton Lio was an okay singer-songwriter but nothing at the moment to make him stand out from the average guy with a guitar.
★★⯪☆☆ Okay	TWITCH Breaking the Binary Theatre Clover at Underbelly, Bristo Square 18:55-19:45	A performance which succeeds in tensioning the fact that being a bad or even dysfunctional parenting can sit alongside caring for and longing for a child. At the same time there are two many indistict parts in this now-solo show and too many less-believable elements, which prevent it from excelling. The venue is also appalling - it had some conditioning unit in the corner making a the noise of a jet engine, which would be significantly distracting in any show.
★★⯪☆☆ Okay	Couplet: Folk Marry Kill Couplet Assembly George Square Studio 5 16:35-17:35	Fairly run of the mill music comedy duo. Nothing much folk about it more than the title. Slightly repetitive, definitely funny in parts but mildly grating in others. The "we are a couple and we are a duo" unique selling point wears thin quite quickly.
★★⯪☆☆ Okay	Best of the Fest Assembly Festival Palais du Variété at Assembly George Square Gardens 23:55-70.0	Any late night variety is pot luck, but I have been to much better late night variety offerings. there were a few laughs, but certainly not best of the fest.
★★⯪☆☆ Okay	Bull / Fight Mythography Collective with Macrobert Arts Centre Former Womens Locker Room at Summerhall 11:30-12:20	Reflecting on Lorca's poem "Lament for the Death of a Bullfighter" and portraying the upheavals in the time he lived in, this play is a montage of scenes around the impact of the Franco regime on the people, the poetry and the arts. The plays starts with the poet's incarceration, jumping back in time to the challenge of performing under significant restriction moving in to the life changing impact that resulted. Thematically interesting, and intriguing dynamics and showmanship, the play loses itself by fusing too many scenes and time-jumps together all at once without any delineation, leaving the audience a little bewildered. The long show of despair in the middle drags on, and in the end the lack of characterisation leaves the audience with very little emotional link with what unfolded.
★★☆☆☆ Poor	Badgers Theatre Royal Plymouth in association with Bristol Old Vic Traverse 2 15:30-16:40	This was just rather dull. I don't have to believe in disappearances or badger reincarnation or the other elements in the play, but the play needs to at least get me to care about any of it. I didn't.
★★☆☆☆ Poor	Three by Samuel Beckett – Not I, Eh Joe, Rockaby Blackbox Productions & McSquared Productions Ivy Greenside George Street 19:50-20:40	Samuel Beckett's obsession with words, sounds, thoughts and bodily function is brought to the stage in three short snippets, none of which I had previously seen. Criticising a Beckett work is a quick way to render one the title of Philistine, but personally, I think we need to get over it. People discuss the meaning and character of the script content of "Not I", but what is the point? Beckett's instruction is for it to be so fast that, in performance, it is fairly unintelligible. Yes, the focus is on the mouth. But there is only so much an audience can get about a mouth. It moves. Yes one can get a sense of angst, but that is hardly challenging theatre. "Not I" just simply leaves me bored. Eh Joe, on the other hand, is unpleasant rather than boring. The derisive thoughts of Joe or accusations of others brought to script on a screen. It gives a sense of the way an individual can be belittled by both others and their own self, not necessarily without reason, but horrifyingly without relent. However, being entirely on screen, the theatre setting adds little to this snippet. Rockaby captured me more - the sense of a lone woman sitting in the rocking chair looking out of the window, lonely and trapped, grasping at any hint of other life from the windows opposite, and eventually closing the blinds, summoning the full effort of a trip down down down to her mother's rocking chair for her eventual demise. The voice speeds and slows, rocking increases and decreases, and the volume changes to signify variations in strength. I can appreciate this monologue. Altogether, in a postmodern world, I personally think Beckett's offerings do look a little ridiculous. I can appreciate bits and pieces, but it feels too self-indulgent to me to be worth elevating against other Fringe offerings. Yes I know that existential absurdity and reduction is the point. But for the same reason, you cannot expect me to take it as seriously as it wants to demand me to.
★⯪☆☆☆ Bad	Lions Lightning Rod Special TechCube 0 at Summerhall 19:30-20:30	A mess of a script of disconnected farce preceding a message about fathers. The acting was poor even for this context, and was substantially pointless shouting. One fringe audience review said, "I think they thought they were zanier than they were." Indeed I think they did.