EdFringe Talk: The Comedy Arcade

Posted in *EdFestivals 2025, *Written Interviews by

“My fringe runs are the hardest I’ve ever worked but somehow still feel like a holiday.”

WHO: Vix Leyton

WHAT: “The Comedy Arcade: competitive anecdotes game. Vix Leyton holds a bingo ball of surprise subjects and invites four different comics every night to spar with never-before-told stories, from the hilarious to the scandalous, to win points awarded by host and audience. ‘Lives up to its billing likening it to a fabulous dinner party. Punters feel they are among spontaneously funny friends rather than hearing well-rehearsed professional anecdotes. We know these stories – and this particular alchemy will not be repeated again’ **** (Steve Bennett, Chortle.co.uk).”

WHERE: Braeburn at Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower (Venue 140) 

WHEN: 22:15 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my fifth and likely my final year as a performer, I think I’ve finally been completely priced out – I’m preparing for a six grand loss and when I’m saving to buy a house and burning all my work leave, it is just too hard to justify, which is hard as I love it. And also I’ll probably be back here next year like a wizened old detective completing one last case before retirement… But I’m planning to try to enjoy this one as fully as possible rather than seeing it as a next step – I’ve got some days off every week, and I’m not oversubscribing on spots all over town; my priority is seeing the shows. Fringe is like nothing else I’ve known; it’s the closest I think I’ll ever get to an American TV summer camp and getting to focus on comedy full time and see so many show is a dream come true – my fringe runs are the hardest I’ve ever worked but somehow still feel like a holiday; probably because I work a 9 – 5 normally. Edinburgh is a beautiful, magical city and scuttling about under the watch of a castle on a hill really makes the commute a bit special. And there is such an interesting, intense energy – once you’ve done a few Fringes, you know the fairytale can come true and it can be for someone unexpected. Our shows give us all a lottery ticket.

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

If you build it they will come. Or they might not. But if you’ve built a show you love performing, it matters a lot less how many audience there are in to see it. The beauty of a panel show is you are not alone out there staring down single figure audiences, and it’s joyful and cathartic to be around other comics making light of the dark bits and showing the people in the room what’s behind the curtain. Play the hand you’re dealt.

I also realised this year that stand up comedy isn’t for me anymore. I have had some of the best experiences of my life since starting but the cost and unreliability of travel (particularly since moving up North) have taken a lot of the joy out of it – gigs that are technically an hour away, I’m having to leave at 5 for, and sometimes I’m getting back after midnight for 10 minutes on stage and expenses. and I find it very lonely – I’m so much happier doing my panel show. It feels like personal growth to not keep doing something that’s not making me happy just because I’ve been doing it for so long.

Tell us about your show.

The show is a competitive storytelling game. I started it as a podcast at my kitchen table in lockdown, bringing together a selection of comedians to tell stories on subjects you don’t hear them talk on very often. I am a massive comedy fan, first and foremost and getting to see what happens when I put some of my favourites together in conversation is a privilege. The best shows don’t only include good stories from the comics, they are where everyone chips in and works with each other and you feel like you’re in the pub with the funniest people you know. I am so lucky that I get brilliant comics who come back and do it year after year – Mark Watson, Sikisa, Thom Tuck, Jenny Ryan from The Chase, Rufus Hound, Sally Hodgkiss; when you have them locked into the schedule it gives you space to bring in brilliant new comics I’ve seen on the circuit so the audience can meet their new favourites in the company of their existing favourites. And the magic of Edinburgh means you also get some amazing wildcards – one year I had Jess Phillips MP join a panel with Bec Hill, Jenny Ryan, Ada Campe and Leslie Ewing-Burgesse – the audience got a once in a lifetime conversation on that day.

I tend to tour it around outside of Fringe – I had an absolutely smashing show at Lancaster comedy festival, and Leicester comedy festival I will do as long as they’ll let me.

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

There are shows I make sure I see every year and one of them is Leslie Ewing – Burgesse; she’s cool and surreal but her hours have real warmth to them, she gathers you close and takes you with her down paths of hilarious whimsy. This year’s show is Behemoth and I can’t wait to see it.

Jenny Ryan is doing a show called Bjorn Yesterday positing the theory that Abba don’t exist – applying that amazing intellect to comedy, with musical interludes, can only be a good thing.

Alternative Comedy Memorial Society – is a compendium of amazing alternative comedy. It is one of the best value shows in town, running at 3 hours, but you can tap out at any point and it is a late night staple where you really could see anyone on the stage doing anything. It’s my favourite hangout and I married the gig in a beautiful sold out ceremony after a long engagement last year, but that’s another story.

Marc Burrows Britpop Hour is fabulous. I saw a work in progress version a few months ago and I can’t wait to see how it’s come along. If you were around in that era, there will be something for you in the show – it’s facts, anecdotes, theories and a huge amount of heart; considering how broad the topic is, I think it’s one of Marc’s most personal shows, and you come away knowing him better, and feeling a little bit more positive about the world in general. Can’t ask for more than that really.

Rob Kemp is finally bringing BeatlesJuice to the Fringe – I am a massive fan of Rob’s work in general, The Elvis Dead is spectacular as a piece of work, and I saw his show Agenda three times, it was hilarious and important and it made me cry. BeatlesJuice reimagines the film Beetlejuice through the songs of the The Beatles – and I imagine I’ve already lost you as you are already booking tickets.

It’s a Scaramouche Jones year. Thom Tuck does this beautiful show about a 100 year old clown telling you his life story every decade having started in 2005. Thom is an Edinburgh Institution himself, and this is a show you will want to see now – and in 2035.

Caitie Wilkins is back at Fringe this year with solo work after some time devoted to writing and being a drunk woman solving crime. She is a fantastic comedian and it is a gorgeous premise.

She’s not going to be short of PR as she is such a deserved phenomenon , but I also have to say Julia Masli – her Hahahahah show was one of the most amazing pieces of work I have ever seen. I came out a different person. The skill and charisma it takes to do what she does, it’s a real masterclass.

I’ve forgotten loads! But hopefully this is a good starting point. The joy of fringe is discovery – take a flyer and go for it.

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