Edinburgh Fringe 2026
Highlander 70
Joseph Morpurgo
Genre: Comedy, Stand-Up, Theatre
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
Highlander 70 delivers a high-concept show that blends stand-up, clowning, and musical theatre into a singular, whimsical experience.
Review
If the Fringe is a festival designed to stretch the boundaries of what we define as “comedy,” then Joseph Morpurgo’s Highlander 70 is the ultimate proof of concept. I can confidently say that Morpurgo’s whimsical tale of high-school shenanigans is the most creative performance I’ve seen this year.
Morpurgo presents a fascinating structural duality: we are simultaneously inhabiting the meticulously crafted world of a high school yearbook and Morpurgo’s own self deprecating stand-up set. The flow between these two realities is seamlessly harsh. The transitions are a jarring surprise, but always purposeful. The moments carry the danger of pulling us out of the performance, but they manage to add to it. This is a testament to his precision as a performer, and his ability to read and manipulate a room.
Perhaps the most immediately striking element is the aesthetic. Morpurgo’s makeup is, at first glance, a genuine shock. My first thoughts went to a dark place, a fair reaction to a monotone full face makeup. I’m sure Morpurgo knows this, and uses that expectation to create a moment that is undeniably funny. It anchors the performance in a slightly surreal reality, forcing the audience to engage on his terms from the moment he steps on stage. It is a bold choice, but one that pays off. From the moment he steps on stage, Morpurgo welcomes us into his world, whether we like it or not.
Stylistically, the piece occupies a slippery middle ground. It flirts heavily with the mechanics of clowning, yet it leans firmly into the rhythm of stand-up. This hybrid gives the show an unpredictable energy. Just when you think you have a handle on the narrative, Morpurgo shifts gears. The inclusion of musical numbers caught me entirely off guard, but I simply loved them. They were not only a surprise but a bona fide highlight, elevating the production from a clever bit of storytelling into something truly grand, and completely absurd.
By the time we were ushered down the stairs and back to the courtyard, I was left with a distinct, lingering feeling of pure joy. Highlander 70 is the kind of show that leaves you wearing a silly smile, grateful to have witnessed an unconventional concept executed with such precision. It is, quite simply, a triumph of imagination.
