EdFringe Talk: Jess Robinson: Your Song

Posted in *EdFestivals 2025, *Written Interviews by

“This year feels extra special because my show is joyful, unfiltered, and full of music I adore.”

WHO: Jess Robinson

WHAT: “Elton John’s greatest hits are reimagined by multi award-winning Jess Robinson (Dead Ringers, The Last Leg), renowned for her pitch-perfect impressions. Celebrating Elton through the voices of iconic women: Britney, Barbra, Amy, and more. ***** (Edinburgh Festivals Magazine). ***** (Edinburgh Evening News). **** (Chortle.co.uk). ‘It’s like a mega concert with all your favourite stars’ (ITV). ‘Naturally funny, pitch perfect’ (Telegraph). ‘Slick impressions, super powered ballads’ (Guardian). ‘A star is born’ (Metro).”

WHERE: Piccolo Tent at Assembly George Square Gardens (Venue 3) 

WHEN: 18:05 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I’ve been doing the Fringe since 2013, but I’ve been coming even longer — first as a kid, then as a teenager with my friends when we could just about afford a hotel and would cram in 21 shows in three days. Things have changed a bit since then.

What makes a great festival for me is the sheer variety, the atmosphere, and that buzz when you see something properly brilliant and unexpected.

This year feels extra special because my show is joyful, unfiltered, and full of music I adore. I’m not contorting myself into something I think the industry wants to see — I’m giving them something I love performing. And that feels like a mini-festival win already.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2024 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

The biggest thing I’ve learned is to follow my joy. For years I twisted myself into knots trying to make the “right” kind of show — the one I thought the industry wanted to see, something clever or edgy or showcase-y enough to tick all the boxes.

But this year, I’ve done something different. I’ve made a show that I’m genuinely, wildly proud of — not because it’s trying to impress anyone, but because it’s fun. It’s full of music I love, impressions I enjoy doing, and it celebrates everything I find joyful and ridiculous and fabulous. And in doing that, I think it’s actually the most “me” I’ve ever been on stage.

So yes, I’ve absorbed the lesson — and I’ll hopefully hang onto it beyond August too.

Tell us about your show.

The show is called Jess Robinson: Your Song – Elton Reimagined. It’s a joyful, camp, glitter-soaked celebration of Elton John’s greatest hits, reimagined through the voices of iconic women — living, dead, and occasionally unhinged.

I wrote the show myself, and I’m co-producing it with the wonderful Heather Ruck through her company Topper and Fred. Heather’s been an incredible champion of the work and a total Fringe superhero. . . (She used to programme Assembly)

My musical director and collaborator is the brilliant Matthew Floyd Jones — you might know him as one half of Frisky and Mannish, or as the composer of Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder. Working with him has been a joy: he’s helped bring the show to life musically and comedically, and he’s joining me on stage too (though I’m not allowed to make eye contact with him because I’ll corpse).

We had our first full run at Soho Theatre in London over four nights at the start of July, and it was honestly magical. We had a standing ovation every night, and the response gave me so much confidence that the show really connects with people. We also did some previews in Brighton, and now Edinburgh is the show’s proper festival premiere.

After the Fringe, we’re planning a wider tour, more London dates, and hopefully some fabulous international bookings too!

What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?

Trygve Wakenshaw, because he’s a rubber-limbed genius and watching him feels like stepping into a cartoon drawn by Salvador Dalí.

Jessica Fostekew, because she’s razor-sharp, hilarious and full of heart.

Robin Morgan, because he’s as warm as he is witty — and ridiculously clever with a callback.

Elf Lyons – The Bird Trilogy She’s doing three shows (Swan, ChiffChaff, Raven) at Pleasance Dome… A truly boundary-pushing performer who won Best Show in 2024.

Abbie Murphy – Garage Girl (WIP).

A love letter to UK Garage, full of energy and nostalgia. She’s magnetic, fearless, and incredibly brilliant in this work-in-progress.

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