Edinburgh Fringe 2025
Abnormally Funny People
Abnormally Funny People
Genre: Comedy, Disability Arts
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
A brilliant mix of stand-up comedy, funny stories, improvisation and music from famous names and rising stars, celebrating 20 years of top-tier disability comedy. Previous performers include Chris McCausland (Strictly), Rosie Jones (Taskmaster) and Liz Carr (Silent Witness). A changing line-up of the world’s funniest disabled comedians throughout the Fringe.
Review
Twenty years ago, Simon Minty and Steve Best brought the very first Abnormally Funny People show to the Fringe. Back then there were six comedians sharing a flat for the month, five disabled and a token not disabled, building friendships, material, and (reportedly) some reported shenanigans involving which shelf the groceries were stored on.
Since then, the format has evolved into a rolling line-up – four comedians each day at Pleasance Courtyard (Beside). The full details are on their website if you want to see who is coming up or to plot a return visit. It’s a clever set-up: come once, enjoy yourself; come again, and see a completely different line-up.
The day I went we had: Aaron Simmonds, Steve Day, Liz Carr and Harriet Dyer – with Aaron MC’ing like a man who knows exactly how to run a room without ever feeling like he’s trying too hard. His intros are warm, funny, and just sharp enough to set up what follows.
First up was Steve Day. Words and stories pour out of every pore, every one a gem. Irreverent, self-mocking, sharp as a pin with plenty of unexpected twists.
Liz Carr may have swapped stand-up for acting but her timing remains pristine – her reminiscences from that first show twenty years ago are gold, and her tales from her acting career are just as delicious and were thoroughly appreciated by the audience.
Then an improv interlude – the kind where the performers end up laughing as much as the audience (always a good sign).
Headliner, Harriet Dyer brought a lovely contrast of style – drier, with material from her work in progress Easily Distra… (previewed for three nights at the start of the Fringe) including the crucial life skill of persuading a cow to lick the top of your head and what it’s like to have a chauffeur with a pipe in his skull. You had to be there.
Accessibility is key in all their work – the Motability Scheme is sponsoring their Fringe run, and have supplied matting over the cobbles on the routes through the courtyard (a win for wheelchairs, a treat for everyone else). Live transcription is provided, and the stenographer deserves an award – it’s like watching a magician with a keyboard. Not only did she keep up with every word – however quickfire the delivery – but the accuracy was perfect throughout.
We finished with a video of a gloriously mangled Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band mixed with Oasis number sung by past performers.
Overall, a great hour of stand-up and improv, brimming with warmth and wit. Go once. Then go again.
