Brighton Fringe is back and with it, lots of great comedy. Here are my top tips for some of the best comedy around. Just to make it easier, I’ve included links to each of the shows. First up Shaggers, hosted by Nik Coppin. I was lucky enough to review this show last year, and I […]


Ever heard of Jasper Maskeleyne? Many haven’t these days – but he was quite remarkable. He was known as The War Magician and was a major inspiration for Kevin Quantum‘s ★★★★ Army@TheFringe show The Trick That Fooled. During the show Kevin, who is based in Edinburgh, recreated magic tricks that fooled the greatest and most creative people […]


Scottish Pakistani actor, writer and stand-up comedian talks about how she started writing and performing with Jo Tomalin. Lubna presents Tickbox – her latest theatre/comedy/storytelling show at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2021. “Tickbox is a semi-autobiographical, one-woman play, in Scots-English and Urdu. Describing a Pakistani woman’s journey from a middle-class life in Pakistan to Govan in […]


Writer, performer mandla rae talks to Jo Tomalin about their work, how they started writing and performing and their show: mandla rae -as british as a watermelon. “‘My name is mandla. It means power. I gave it to myself’ – mandla rae has a selective memory and they are scrambling to piece together their life. […]


Loneliness and social dislocation are the price some children pay for life in a military family – due to frequent moves and relocations. This makes it difficult to settle into education, establish friendships or even know where to call home. Dandelion by Creative Electric addresses these issues in a work of physical theatre created for this year’s […]


The head of the Army in Scotland, Brigadier Ben Wrench, raised the curtain at the Army’s own Edinburgh Fringe venue – a drill hall converted into a COVID-safe theatre space. With the Edinburgh Fringe facing so many challenges, the Army wanted to ensure that Hepburn House (which hosts Army@TheFringe) was one of the venues able […]


If someone mentions Army musicians what springs to mind? Changing of the Guard, The Edinburgh Military Tattoo, perhaps a sombre rendition of The Last Post. All very much part and parcel of what they do, but they have many other dimensions too. Take Colour Sergeant Dougie Anderson of the Lowland Band of the Royal Regiment […]


As a small venue outside the Edinburgh city centre, with little walk up trade, Army@TheFringe has always had to work that bit harder to win audiences. Ticket sales tend to build as the Fringe goes on, as the result of reviews and word of mouth recommendations. This year we decided to return to in-person performances […]


From Page to Stage – a Platform for New Edinburgh Writers

When Michelle McKay returned to Edinburgh she found there were few opportunities to connect with other creatives and started Page2Stage as a solution. The idea was to provide a platform for new work and bring people together. As the arts seek to recover after the pandemic she’s relaunching the initiative during Army@TheFringe. This year’s Army@TheFringe […]


By Jordan Blackwood, Army@TheFringe producer It’s good to be back on stage at The Edinburgh Fringe. Last year we went digital and it worked well. But there’s huge yearning among performers and audiences alike to get back into venues and to soak up the atmosphere that is unique to in-person performance. A mark of that is […]


The bumpy road gets a bit longer

By Lori Hamilton One thing about me is that I am persistent. SO PERSISTENT (aka stubborn, hard-headed, etc.). Given a problem, I am 100% sure that I can find a solution.  When obstacles arise, I set about pulling out my fix-it tools and get to work. Ha ha! My confidence abounds! I like this about […]


First Crack off the Bat – Three Broken Ribs

Lori Hamilton continues her series of blogs about the mishaps and challenges of bringing a show to the Edinburgh Fringe. It was February 10, 2020. Having written a play about following my intuition, you would think that I would follow my intuition. But you would be wrong. On that particular morning, I decided to shave […]


By Lori Hamilton At last it’s confirmed – the 2021 Edinburgh Fringe is happening! I’m SO EXCITED. And I’m so grateful. The importance of the Edinburgh Fringe: When I was in college at UCLA, one of my favorite classes was Modern British Drama, where we learned about the incredible impact of the Fringe on the quality and […]


About nine months into Covid, a friend and I decided to remain hopeful by booking a trip to Yellowstone National Park. Little did I know that by the time we were there, I would also be rehearsing for the World Premiere of my show at the Brighton Fringe Festival. That’s right!  I started live streaming […]


My Bumpy Road to The Fringe

Hi. I’m Lori Hamilton, writer and actor currently living in New York City. Between now and August, I’m planning to do a regular blog about the challenges of bringing a show to the Edinburgh Fringe (I’m also doing online performances for the Brighton Fringe) from the USA in 2021. You’ll hear about recording during Covid, how my cats […]


Mini-Reviews of Online Fringe

Over August I have been watching online content. Not all of these shows are long enough to warrant the full Fringe Review experience but are good, and interesting enough to be talked about. Whilst the review criteria are the same, the brevity is a whole new experience. Anyhow, here are my thoughts on these shows. […]


A busted August

Like most of us, this is not the August I imagined. I won’t bore you with the same tale, you have heard told again and again. Suffice to say, the image on the left tells its own story. What I would like to talk about is new work, the emergence of a new medium, and […]


Edinburgh Fringe Online 2020

Welcome to our coverage of a very different Edinburgh Fringe for 2020. In the midst of the strange times we find ourselves with and a cancelled physicial world version of the world’s largest arts festival, Edfringe has ported online, hopefully just for this year, though we suspect there will be a mch more significant number […]


Welcome to ZOO TV

        Welcome to our coverage of ZOO TV. Zoo Venues, one of Edfringe’s key performance venues, brings an impressive programme to you, via the digital realm. We’ll be posting recommendations, previews and interviews soon, so watch this space. VIew the Zoo TV programme here.


              Paul Levy talks to director Matt Owen and co-producer Kate Chalmers from Pound of Flesh Theatre about Fires Our Shoes Have Made. “Excalibur, equipped. School, skipped. Six months ago, when they lost their mum, their names shot past the sun and echoed through the stars. Today they become […]


              Paul Levy talks to Jacqueline Haigh about Goddess. “A peek behind the velvet curtain! Hilarious one-woman sitcom based on Jacqueline Haigh’s true experiences working as a receptionist in a tantric massage parlour. Fringe hit 2018! Directed by award-winning Alan Short (co-director Watership Down, Netflix/BBC) ‘Well written and conveyed… […]


A Strategy Play: Paul Levy talks to Elliot Hughes about Standard: Elite

              Paul Levy talks to Elliot Hughes from Hidden Track about award-winning theatre game Standard: Elite. “There are two types of ticket. Everyone gets a Standard ticket. You have to earn an Elite ticket. Together, we’re going to tell a story… of a girl from Lowground spun from spiderweb and […]


Producing for the First Time at the Fringe: Jo Tomalin talks to Jacob Standbridge about producing Sidekick

Jo Tomalin talks to Jacob Standbridge cast member and producer, who offers advice to first time producers at the Fringe, from his experience in Sidekick, a new musical. “It’s the final year of university for Tom, but he’s afraid he’ll never be good enough to become a superhero. When Lily mysteriously arrives with powers stronger than […]


              Paul Levy talks to Cristina Lark about satirical theatre piece Rich Bitch – How to Make Money with the Power of Your Mind. “GFH builds on the runaway success of Gabby’s last Edinburgh show and offers a new series of life hacks on today’s dating and partying scene. From […]


Ensemble is a group of dancers who get together to create, for friendship and to challenge themselves, for the past six years. Jo Tomalin talks to Robbie Synge and Lucy Boyes, choreographers and co-Directors of Ensemble, a dance production working with people of different ages. “Ensemble is a joyous expression of togetherness involving five performers […]


One of the most powerful moments in Henry Box Brown is when a Southern preacher proclaims the equality of all human beings to his slave-owning congregation. The story is a true one from mid-19thcentury America, where the Virginia slave Henry Brown was helped by people of all races in his escape to freedom. The Rev […]


Choreographing collaboratively with dancers is an organic way to create new work. Jo Tomalin talks to award-winning choreographer from Hong Kong, Victor Fung, Artistic Director and Choreographer of Victor Fung Dance, and dancers from his company about From the Top. “From the Top is a witty contemporary dance work that explores the power relations between […]


Growing up in a small town in Wales, Youth Theatre offered an introduction to acting. Jo Tomalin talks to Ryan Lane about how this interest grew, led to training with Philippe Gaulier, and how he found inspiration to create and perform his new solo show Ryan Lane Will Be There Now in a Minute. “A show for […]


Zero Waste Fringe: BoxedIn get creative at the Greenhouse

A rather casual conversation at last year’s Edfringe about all the waste it creates led to the question ‘could we do it differently?’ and it turns out we can. Or, at least, BoxedIn Theatre can. They have created a zero waste venue, The Greenhouse, and an eco themed programme. It was a bit of a […]


              Paul Levy talks to  award-winning author and political campaigner Jennifer Nadel about Medea Speaks. “Medea Speaks is a rallying cry to take the conversation begun by #MeToo further. Franca Rame’s acclaimed interpretation of Medea is co-directed by award-winning author and political campaigner Jennifer Nadel and Myles O’Gorman from […]


              Paul Levy talks to Lucy Farrett about her solo character comedy show Lucy Farrett: Lois. “Lois: your new favourite action hero. She fights the man, steals from the rich and eats yummy punks for breakfast. She’ll avenge the death of your mother, your brother, even your good-for-nothin’ goldfish, […]


              Paul Levy talks to storyteller Turan Ali, here at his first Edfringe, about Don’t Frighten the Straights! “International slut and mouthy, old, ethnic poof, Turan Ali tells outrageously funny true gay stories from around the queer world, some heard on Radio 4. Jaw-droppingly hilarious sluttery from this BBC comedy […]


Creating a dance piece that is simple and complex at the same time is an interesting concept. Jo Tomalin talks to Chiara Bersani, an italian dancer and choreographer, with a disability, about her career and new solo show Seeking Unicorns. “A fragile and abandoned symbol is made manifest by an extraordinary artist. The unicorn is […]


Jo Tomalin talks with physical theatre performer Tom Bailey who is also Artistic Director of award-winning theatre company, Mechanimal. His company is interested in devising physical theatre projects exploring the relationship between human and non-human species. After last year’s successful physical theatre show ‘Zugunruhe’ a sound-theatre project exploring both human migration and bird migration, Bailey […]


Making creative theatre for very small audiences in a caravan depends on the size of the caravan. Jo Tomalin talks to Emma Brierley, about developing and performing immersive visual theatre, including puppetry, poetry and storytelling and touring Swallow the Sea Caravan Theatre. “From the absurd to the moving, magical, funny and intriguing. Swallow the Sea […]


              Paul Levy talks to Chelsea Mountney and Rich Foyster about immersive theatre piece  Anti Depressed? the latest piece from Pop Heart Productions and Happenings Theatre Company. Their aim is to open up the conversation abour mental health. Award-winning Happenings Theatre Company and sell-out Pop Heart Productions present their new collaboration. […]


Having formed their company Clownfish just over a year ago they have created their first show for the Edinburgh Fringe. Jo Tomalin talks to actors and directors Jess Clough-MacRae and Jonathan Tilley about their company and Sir david and His Animals. “The magic of David Attenborough live on stage! A blue whale swims through the […]


Jo Tomalin talks to Rhum & Clay’s Artistic Directors, Matthew Wells and Julian Spooner, about their physical theatre company, how they choose topics for their devised shows and how they developed and adapted The War of the Worlds from Orson Wells’ 1938 radio broadcast adaptation of H.G. Well’s sci-fi novel of the same name. “‘No-one […]


          Benjamin Alborough from Percals about Cream Tea and Incest and Ricky Riddlegang and the Riddle Gang. Cream Tea and Incest “Romance! Adventure! Murder! Aristocrat Eddie Spangler and valet Jeffrey must learn the meaning of these words and more in this new knockabout Edwardian comedy. Delight in their capers, mix-ups, and […]


  Raised Voices is a registered charity that  provide creatives writing and performance workshops for homeless people in Edinburgh. Founder Blair Christie talks to Kate Saffin about the regular workshops they run and the shows that they create each year: for the Fringe and at Christmas. The shows are written by and performed by those […]


From Japan, Masashi Kadoya and Keisuke Hamaguchi (wearing glasses) talk to Jo Tomalin on the busy and famous Mile at the Edinburgh Festival, about mime and physical theatre in Zeroko’s Teatime. “The teatime show by mime and clowning comedy duo Zeroko from Tokyo. The heart-warming performance represents the breathing sigh of after-teatime relief.” Listen to our […]


Storyteller and stand up comedian Matthew Fong has performed around the world and is a regular on the UK circuit. Jo Tomalin talks to Matthew Fong about developing his comedy, making a living in this career and BBC British-Born Chinese playing at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. “BBC is the debut show from british born chinese comedian […]


Pat Silver’s Five Children’s Shows to See at Edfringe 2019

              Children’s theatre maker and reviewer for FringeReview Pat Silver shares her five recommended choices for Children’s Theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe 2019… Switch Witchetty’s Almanac of Everything, theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall, 13:25 – a daring adventure to determine the next king of the kingdom – Theatre (musical theatre, […]


Roya the Destroya, Phax Said Cheik Ahamada and Hello Shelly are three of the six international hip hop/breakin’ street theatre performers performing in one show.  Jo Tomalin talks to  them about their specific acts and how they came together to perform in FrontX. “FrontX shows a range of international street artists who combine exceptional energy and […]


Trick of the Light Theatre, from New Zealand, is known for their storytelling and innovative use of shadow and object puppetry. Jo Tomalin talks to Ralph McCubbin Howell and Hannah Smith about the techniques used in their latest show, Troll. “It’s 1998. Otto is 12 but online he’s 13 and he’s pretty sure he gets […]


              Sketch Comedy at the Fringe: Paul Levy, joined by FringeReview’s comedy reviewer Joe Angella, talk to Dan Robinson about Sketch You Up! “Comedy sketches that are observational and familiar but with a contemporary Sketch You Up! twist. Think Catherine Tate meets Little Britain and you’re almost there! Let […]


Jo Tomalin talks to Louise Hunter and Robin MacPherson about their new series of discussions and events at the Fringe this year. Already with a strong list of interesting talks (from AI to slavery, and much in between) with renowned speakers, they hope to develop EduMod in the future. Listen to our interview with Louise Hunter […]


Using memories and life events to create a humourous show:  Jo Tomalin talks with writer and performer Rohan Candappa about spoken word, developing humor and One Starts in a Barber’s. One Starts in a Bar. Being made redundant after several years  years in a job was a source for material that touched a nerve with […]


Following the international success of Testosterone, exploring the culturally and socially different world a transperson has to learn to navigate, Kit talks about his new play, Passengers, described as: ‘A dark comedy about the epic battles and alliances within the psyche and the beautiful power of the mind to protect itself from pain. Max wants […]


The Female Role Model Project: Kate Saffin talks to the creator, Tjasa Ferme

Tjasa Ferme talks about this ground breaking mix of theatre and multi-media exploring the science of the brain. She describes how the idea emerged and developed into an interactive experience as much as a ‘show’ using live neuroscientific monitoring and recording which the audience see and hear as video and soundscape. And volunteers from the […]


A Solo Meditation on Love and Morality for Us All: Paul Levy talks to Brian Joseph and Daria Roland about Normaler Than Everyone

              Paul Levy talks to Brian Joseph and Daria Roland about Normaler Than Everyone. “A solo musical featuring multi-instrumentalist and award-winning polymath Brian Joseph. Through his songs, writings and photographs, made while his wife was going through cancer treatment, Joseph presents a funny, moving and altogether original portrait of […]


It runs in the family: Kate Saffin talks to Joan Lawrence and Christian Gittings about Gilbert & Sullivan

Sometimes things just run in families and it was quite by chance that I learned that Joan Lawrence who sang with the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company from 1956 to 1962, would be watching her grandson, Christian Gittins, perform in Coily Dart’s Gilbert and Sullivan’s Improbable New Musical: Less Miserable The Spaces. Here they talk about […]


The Silent Clown, Chaplin and A Goofy Testament to the Power of a Childlike Imagination: Paul Levy talks to Alex Curtis about (Chalk) A SIlent Comedy

              Paul Levy talks to Alex Curtis about (Chalk) A Silent Comedy. “If everything you drew became real, where would your imagination take you? A charismatic clown discovers magic chalk that makes everything he draws come to life in this fantastical one-man show guaranteed to delight audiences of all […]


Ariadna is a new production brought to this year’s Edinburgh Fringe by Alyona Ageeva Physical Theatre PosleSlov, based in Russia. The company explores physical theatre and expression of themes and abstract physical storytelling through outstanding movement quality. Jo Tomalin talks to eight members of the cast and creative team, including Alyona Ageeva, artistic director, Constantine, creative director, […]


Gig Theatre is a genre of theatre that is increasing in popularity. Jo Tomalin talks with Niall, a co-producer of Pound of Flesh Theatre Company’s contemporary spoken word play Fires Our Shoes Have Made at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. Niall is in his last year studying Drama at Warwick University and the rest of the […]


Lifelong teacher and author Dr. Emma Kell talks with Jo Tomalin about how data published in her latest book How to Survive in Teaching: Without Imploding, exploding or walking away is included in TEACH, a new solo play about the challenges a teacher faces, written and performed by Matthew Roberts, at this year’s Edinburgh Festival […]


Georgina Russell, actor and new graduate from Manchester University talks with Jo Tomalin about her training in devising, what devising is and how to start devising. Georgina and a friend from Manchester devised this show – Life Between Yes and No – using creative ideas such as instruments to express feelings and emotion and how to express […]


Helen Tennison directs different genres of theatre – from solo shows to Shakespeare in the UK and  internationally. Jo Tomalin talks to her about her approach to directing, and how she collaborates on her latest project, directing Matthew Roberts in TEACH, at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe: Listen to our interview with Helen Tennison about directing […]


Kate Saffin talks to Jeremy Nicholas about… talking (in public)

Jeremy describes himself as the 11th most famous Jeremy at the BBC and has many years experience as a broadcaster and as an international speaker. Last year he shared some of his most colourful moments at the BBC. This year it’s stories of public speaking. He describes the show as for anyone who ever listens […]


              Paul Levy talks to performer and improviser Justin Brett about Showstopper! – The Improvised Musical. The company are back at the fringe again with their ever-popular improv musical comedy show. But what is the true craft of improvising a musical night after night? “Justin Brett (cast member) trained at […]


Ronan Dempsey wrote and performs the physical theatre new writing solo piece The Words Are There for his company NTH Degree Productions. He talks with Jo Tomalin about devising the show and reactions from audiences. “Mick awaits Trish. He stands in his little seaside flat in oh-so-dreamy Bettystown, Ireland: like that little town in Murder […]


Tara Lacey of Peppered Wit Productions directs, produces and acts in The Wasp at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe. She talks about how and why she started producing plays for the company and what skills she needs to be able to produce. “A gripping electric thriller, exploring the far-reaching, unexpected and devastating effect childhood bullying can […]


            Gavin Robertson is an award-winning actor, poet and physical theatre maker and performer. He shares his recommendations for solo theatre with FringeReview. Gavin is here at Edfringe 2019 with his own solo show, Stand-up Poet. Gavin: Here’s my top 5 picks of the solo shows on offer at Edinburgh […]


              So firstly I should probably declare that I’m performing myself (“Stand-Up Poet” – that’s that done) but having been asked by FringeReview to push some shows your way, here’s my top five, based on intuition, instinct, piqued interest or because I’ve seen it before! Find out more about […]


              Paul Levy talks to actors Nicholas Collett, Patrick Miller and writer and director Hyun-suk Cha about Black and White Tea Room – Counsellor from Group: Theatre Hooam as part of the Korean Season presented by AtoBiz Ltd. This was a fascinating conversation about translation, transposition and transfer of a theatre […]


              Gavin Robertson about Stand-Up Poet. Gavin Robertson is veteran live poet on tour Greg Byron. But Greg Byron Gavin Robertson? We called it an ‘Excellent show’. “Sardonic, comic, whimsical, sometimes just poignant or cathartic, but always ‘keeps you constantly engaged’ (Kansas City Star) delivering verses on life, the universe […]


              Listen to our interview with Christina Gulick about CLAW: The Confederation of Lady Arm Wrestlers. “Are you ready for some serious competition?! Welcome to the stage, the phenomenal, the whimsical, the international movement of Ladies Arm Wrestling currently sweeping the globe! Over-the-top characters, ringmasters, referees, musical intros, lights, […]


              Paul Levy talks to Brett Johnson, standup comedian and storyteller about Brett Johnson Poly-Theist. “Brett was a 21-year-old, married, monogamous Evangelical. Then he became the opposite. After sell outs across the US, stand-up Brett Johnson’s show about (non)monogamy, God and KFC hits the Fringe. ‘A uniquely poignant story, […]