EdFringe Talk: Jonathan Rudge: Stay at Home Son

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“I absolutely love Scotland, and the restaurant scene excites me a lot. I’m belly-led.”

WHO: Jonathan Rudge

WHAT: “In this, his brand new show ‘Stay at Home Son’, Londoner (oh shut up) Jonathan dives into the world of messed-up-millennials and manifesting adoption into the Beckhams now there’s a spare seat at the table (Love heart hands Brooklyn x). Nominated for no awards and never a sold-out show – Jonathan is fresh meat. This is a chance to see him before he hits the big time so don’t miss out. *Not written by ChatGPT.”

WHERE: Just The Snifter Room at Just The Tonic at The Mash House (Venue 288) 

WHEN: 20:35 (55 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This will be my third time at the Edinburgh Fringe. My first was a short run of shows in 2024, then in 2025 I came back as a punter, and this year is my debut full run. The year I wasn’t performing, I could feel the cosmic electricity pumping out of every performer, polluting the air with their enthusiastic desperation. I’d never felt anything like it before. I loved it. I can’t wait to return. I absolutely love Scotland, and the restaurant scene excites me a lot. I’m belly-led.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

I learned a bit of French on Duolingo and discovered that dating Gen Z can be… educational. Stand-up-wise, the biggest lesson was to stop thinking of an hour as an hour and start thinking of it as six lots of ten minutes. For some reason that completely rewired my brain. Life-changing. The lesson that keeps getting reinforced, especially over the past 12 months, is that creativity is part of one’s self, do not let anyone change it.

Tell us about your show.

Stand-up is incredibly personal. It’s basically reading your diary aloud and hoping people laugh. The show pokes fun at the strange generational moment we’re living through: the boomers who had everything, millennials who are technically proper adults but still feel like they’re winging it, Gen Z hot on our heels telling us how to behave, and poor Gen Alpha, who’ve barely had a look in yet. I wrote the show this past year and recently had some help from Bobby Mair who sprinkled his magic over me.. Sorry, I mean over the show. I’m producing it myself, and Edinburgh will be its premiere. I managed to orchestrate my redundancy after 19 years with the same company, which has funded the trip north. Massive thanks as well to my adopted Edinburgh parents, Norma and Alister, who are putting me up for the month. If all goes to plan, I’d love to keep taking the show on the road after the Fringe. A spot at the Soho Theatre is the dream, I’ve seen so many great things there. It’s a special place being a Londoner.

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

The Queer Comedy Club, who have a lovely home in Elephant and Castle, are bringing ‘The Best of Queer Fringe’ to Edinburgh every night. It’s always a guaranteed hoot.

Rohan Ashar and Mani Ahmed’s ‘Other’ is fantastic. I caught it at Brighton Fringe where it completely sold out, and I can’t recommend it enough.

Michael McPheat’s ‘Brutal’ is a love letter to his hometown of Milton Keynes, told through his younger queer experience. I saw a preview in his flat, and it’s proper LOL.

Finally, AJ Adams’ ‘Is He Bothering You?’ is on at 12.10am in The Wee One with Just the Tonic. I had that slot in 2024, so it feels only right to send people his way. I left a good energy load in that room!

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