Fringe 2023

Douglas Robertson and Jane-Ann Purdy of Soundhouse took on Rose Theatre as a Fringe venue at the very last minute possible this year - but what a line-up they have on offer until 28 August.With a choice of two spaces big and small...

The Royal Mile becomes a gathering point for street performers and performers trying to increase their audiences by handing out flyers and offering a snapshot of their shows. It is always busy and can be a lot of fun.All photos Alan Simpson Photography10/08/2023...

Comedy stars Frank Skinner, Ivo Graham, Adam Kay, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Larry Dean, Chloe Petts, Emmanuel Sonubi, Lara Ricote and MC Hal Cruttenden came together on Tuesday 15 August in support of a special charity gig at McEwan Hall.The fifth annual one-night-only show raised...

The former First Minister Alex Salmond is back on the Fringe in a new show called The Ayes Have It! The Ayes Have It!Appearing at the Palais de Varieté Salmond will spar with David Davis MP, former Brexit minister on important matters such as...

Mhairi Black has been MP for Paisley & Renfrewshire South since being elected in 2015, when she was just 20 years old.She took her final exam at Glasgow University after the election, and was awarded her degree in Politics and Public Policy with...

A play which will be premiered at this year's Fringe has input from 50 nurses who have shared their experiences working in the NHS.All contributors are anonymous but their stories have resulted in a play which reveals funny, poignant and shocking stories from...

So, to me, August means one thing – Festival month.I used to be Head of Press at both Assembly and the Gilded Balloon, so I know a thing or two about ‘how to work the Festival’. I also look forward to August every...

The winner of an award made by Popcorn Group will be announced on Thursday in a ceremony at Gilded Balloon.This award is made to the best of new writing at the Fringe - championing "fearless new writing" and "distinctive unique voices" and awards a...

Danny knows what he likes, and what he likes is football.He’s 19 years-old with a dead-end job in a workhouse. He's stuck in a terraced house with his reactionary and critical Dad; Mum left some time ago. What Danny lives for are Saturdays and...

There's little doubt which side of the political spectrum Itai Erdal is on and the strength of his bleak, anti-war play about the Arab-Israeli conflict lies in his straight-from-the-shoulder approach.A former Israeli soldier, the Jerusalem-born actor-playwright Erdal, 49, is the artistic director of the Elbow...

IN the last full year before the general election, the legendary show returns with all the latest political dramas, characters, questions and unreliable predictions. Can Starmer win? Has Sunak a path to victory? Has the SNP peaked? Can Brexit ever be done? Let's try to make...

The Queen of Hollywood arrived in Edinburgh this week, Elizabeth Taylor.Often described as the last movie star and certainly of a certain era. Kayla Boye brings the 1961 Elizabeth Taylor back to life discussing her life so far with a biographer. Boye delivers...

There’s lots of comedy and visual humour in Silent Faces Theatre Company’s Godot is a Woman, but this is a clever, slick and entertaining show which conveys a serious message.Why are people so keen to hang on to outdated ideas about gender, and what...

The Abrupt SonFour starsIT may sound like damning with faint praise but this is a performance that had bags of potential in it.When Cynthia's husband dies during her pregnancy, she's expected to mourn. Instead, she's jubilant. He can never hurt her again. But what...

In Shakespeare’s Anthony and Cleopatra the titular heroes are undone by love. Anthony can’t keep away from Cleopatra, and she is so besotted that when she hears he’s dead, she grabs an asp and kills herself with it.Love is the theme, and never...

Steve Richard's Rock and Roll PoliticsFive StarsSTEVE Richard’s podcast “Rock and Roll Politics” has become very popular but it is clear that the veteran journalist also really enjoys the live shows.It allows plenty of time for Steve to express his views on a number...

What does it mean to be a man in the 21st century? How does toxic masculinity affect those of us assigned male at birth? Here are some answers in a solo musical written and performed by transgender artist Rebecca McGlynn"What’s so great about sex, and why...

Former First Minister, Alex Salmond is coming back to the Fringe in a new show The Ayes Have It! The Ayes Have It! along with Succession star Brian Cox, CBE, and former Speaker John Bercow in the Speaker's chair for a couple of nights...

This show, prompted by tragedy, is one of the 'underground' highlights of this year's Fringe. Arriving 45 mins before kick-off, it was clear that this show had built up a real buzz.Already, at least 30 people had gathered, keen to be part of...

The show is something of a love letter to the Fringe and Edinburgh as a place of cultural adventure. Edward W. Feery has greatly enjoyed the Fringe  'as a performer' for the last few years, and as 'a punter' for over a decade.In...

From King Charles to Keir Starmer, Prince Harry to Putin, Sunak to Strikes and Sleaze, no stone will be left unturned.Expect 100% brand-new material from this multi award-winning institution where much of the content is written by the preposterously talented cast and creative...

Simon Thacker and Piah Dance Company present Tandava as part of the Made in Scotland showcase in a World Premiere.The Edinburgh Festival Fringe includes shows from around the world which make the pilgrimage to the world's biggest arts festival. One of these is Tandava,...

Faith is a member of the Edinburgh Festival of The Sacred Arts committee, who, with friend Peter Holloway, are putting on a drama production which will see a contemporary twist on Twelfth Century ‘The Mystery Plays’. There will be two performances happening on Sunday 13...

Looking for Giants is a fresh, original and impressively performed play in which we see a young woman taking control of her sexuality and making it work for her.In Cesca Echlin's show Abby McCann excels as a unnamed young woman exploring both her sexual...

RuPaul stars Baga Chipz and Anita Wigl'it pose at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh as they begin their Fringe shows at Gilded Balloon. Baga Chipz and Anita Wigl'it performed at a one-off Drag Brunch at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, in the midst of their run at Gilded Balloon...

The line-up for Mervyn Stutter’s special charity gala on Monday 21 August has been announced. Mervyn’s gala celebrates three decades of Mervyn Stutter's Pick of the Fringe, the legendary showcase that presents a curated mix of Fringe picks, highlighting the Festival’s international acclaim.The choice of shows covers all genres of...

When I was a student, many years ago, I saw an amateur dramatisation of Susie Orbach’s groundbreaking book Fat is a Feminist Issue.I felt so seen that I still remember it now. Back then, eating disorders were seen as a woman’s problem, one...

At the Grand at Pleasance on Saturday there was a fabulous array of talent on display in the Opening Gala, and every show which performed this morning would be an excellent choice to add to your Fringe diary.Comedy of Operas opened the show...

AloneFour StarsIT takes a remarkable talent in a play when the dialogue and interplay is so natural that you forget they are acting.That is just one of the qualities of the multi award winning New Zealand drama.It starts to the strain of Bowie’s Starman...

Skinner is immediately drawn to a man in the front row with a black kilt, sparkly black jacket and cane.He proves to be something of a comic foil for Frank throughout the show and loves every minute. The 66-year-old refers back to when...