Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2016 – shows with some politics in them

Many shows explore political themes in 2016, a year that has the potential for significant political change with the forthcoming referendum on EU membership in the UK and presidential elections in the USA.

Knowing EU (SpaceUK, p.278) takes a humorous look at the facts and foibles, the successes and failures, the good, the bad and the ugly of the European Union.

Closer to home Faslane (Summerhall, p.307) explores what happens when the personal and political collide against the backdrop of the UK’s nuclear missile programme, Trident, while And Now… (Zoo, p.180) uses dance to reflect on how Scotland has changed two years on from the Scottish independence referendum of 2014.

In Panti: High Heels in Low Places (Traverse, p.141), drag queen Panti Bliss shares the story of her remarkable journey from small-town boy to accidental activist.

Bourgeois and Maurice: How to Save the World Without Really Trying (Underbelly, p.68) uses music and cabaret to tackle the complex issues of today’s geo-political climate, while in Mark Thomas: The Red Shed (Traverse, p.337), the popular comic and activist revisits the Wakefield Labour Club where he performed his first show and experienced a political coming of age.

Comedian’s bringing politics to the fore this year include Andrew Maxwell (Assembly, p.56), Nish Kumar: Actions Speak Louder Than Words, Unless You Shout the Words Real Loud (Pleasance, p.138), and Shazia Mirza (The Stand, p.159).

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