Author Archives: Dan Lentell

EdFringe Talk: Showstopper! The Improvised Musical

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“This will be my 14th consecutive year going to Ed Fringe. It’s now labelled simply in my diary as “Ed,” which I like because it does kind of feel like an old friend.”

WHO: Ali James

WHAT: “The Olivier Award-winning West End smash hit and Fringe favourite is back! The Showstoppers improvise a hilarious new musical every show, totally inspired by audience suggestions, in ‘the funniest improv on the Fringe’ (BroadwayBaby.com). The mind-blowing, must-see phenomenon where it’s opening night of the hottest musical in town… every night! With over 1,500 hilarious made-up musicals to their name, The Showstoppers never perform the same show twice. ‘So polished, it defies belief’ ***** (Telegraph). ‘A consistent audience favorite for a reason.’ ***** (Playbill). ‘Achingly funny… worth seeing again and again.’ ***** (Time Out).”

WHERE: Grand at Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 17:20 (70 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No, this will be my 14th consecutive year going to Ed Fringe. It’s now labelled simply in my diary as “Ed,” which I like because it does kind of feel like an old friend.

In fact, Ed is a great pal; I’ve had some of the best experiences of my career and indeed life directing, performing, spectating and, yes, partying over the years with Ed. The sheer variety of Ed’s interests really keeps me guessing and broadening my horizons as to what I enjoy. From Peter Pan inspired club nights where we refused to grow up to masked theatre shows exploring thought provoking themes like mental health as we age, the programme is FULL.

At the same time, I know what I’m in for and nowadays know when me and Ed need our downtime. Did you know there is a little garden down the ramp next to the Pleasance Grand entrance? Hardly anyone knows about it and Ed and I often enjoy an iced tea and plan your next exploit there with the all encompassing Fringe Guide. Or maybe grab yourself a healthy smoothie at Hula on the Grass Market and catch up on the latest hot goss (either from reviews or word of mouth). Carving out these little pockets of time together is essential for maximum friendship benefit.

Like all great friends, Ed listens well. When things aren’t as good as they could be the Ed Fringe Society and board members respond, having made it their year round commitment to deliver a festival better than the last every time. And their recommendations (eg 2-4-1 deals and mixed bill shows like Pick of the Fringe) are more often than not bang on, so do take their advice to heart.

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

I’m currently learning to boundary my time more effectively (challenging as a freelance director and performer!) so I can continue to give the absolute best of me to each of my respective projects (three of which will be part of Ed Fringe this year). Fitness, rest and relaxation have to be part of my everyday routine now. I try to take care of my body so I can keep moving dynamically in Showstopper and am constantly thrilled by our artistic developments as a company. Ed’s audiences are very loyal and have helped Showstopper galvanise and grow annually for the last 17 years, for which I’m very grateful.

Tell us about your show.

Showstopper is a 70 minute improvised West End/ Broadway musical. The concept is simple; a theatre writer’s producer calls and asks for a new musical. Out of ideas, they turn to their audience for inspiration. We, the seven strong cast and three strong band spontaneously bring to life the imagined story, choreography and songs celebrating the audiences brilliant suggestions. Produced by Suzanna Rosenthal, Showstopper has been running since its porta cabin inception of 2008 inspired by the work of British theatre director Ken Campbell. We tour the UK year round and occasionally have stints abroad too. We’ll be back in the autumn in lots of UK cities and continuing our London West End residency at the stunning Cambridge Theatre.

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

I will always suggest Austentatious! (An improvised Jane Austen novel that makes me laugh so hard I sometimes cry) and The Bob Ross Effect (also an SRP show) from the mind and heart of legendary Fringe performer Sarah Louise Young where you get to (if you’d like) draw along with Sarah and explore how art can help us all.

So from me and Ed, join us this August for a summer friendship fest like no other!

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EdFringe Talk: Jamie Wolf: Psycho

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“I’ve done stand up for almost a decade and have never done an hour almost every night for nearly a month. It’s gonna be a fun crash course.”

WHO: Jamie Wolf

WHAT: “A story about loss, grief and the meaning of life, Psycho should be a slow, plodding, tear-jerker of an hour. Instead, join Jamie as he shares an uproariously funny, heartwarming and life-affirming outlook on tragedy. One of Time Out’s Comics to Watch 2025, Jamie Wolf is a comedian, writer, actor and former opiate user with a penchant for tackling dark and taboo subjects with a dynamic stage presence that not only makes it work, but makes it kill.”

WHERE: Wee Room at Gilded Balloon Tevio (Venue 14) 

WHEN: 21:40 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Yes and I’m super excited to bring my hour there! I’ve done stand up for almost a decade and have never done an hour almost every night for nearly a month. It’s gonna be a fun crash course. I’ll probably want to quit a few times, too. I’m also pumped to try the food: I’ve heard it’s fantastic.

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

I have learned over the last few months that roughly a thousand ways of performing certain jokes DOES NOT work. This show is a testament to the fact that I HAVE absorbed these lessons and my show is the leftover parts that worked, over and over, in different environments.

Tell us about your show.

I wrote it and Richard Bucknall is producing after coming to see a run of this hour in the States. He’s been absolutely outstanding thus far. Afterwards, I plan to record this hour to pitch it to streamers. When they inevitably pass, I will put it out on my YouTube channel.

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

Watch Sam Morrison’s show!! He’s one of my best friends and truly so talented. Hilarious and unique and a massive inspiration for me. Geoffrey Asmus is also an outstanding US-based comic that absolutely rips. If you want an hour of great jokes, go see him.

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EdFringe Talk: Target Audience

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“After our run, the theatre went into liquidation, and we lost £6.5k… So I suppose the big thing I learned over the past 12 months is that even if you do a really successful show at Edinburgh and get a transfer, you can still lose thousands and thousands of pounds.”

WHO: Dan Bishop

WHAT: “A TV production company gets word from Whitehall that they must adapt their programming to align with the government’s new policy to rapidly prepare the country for war. Panicked, the producers offer writer Tobias an exorbitant amount of money to pen a ‘pro-weapons sitcom’, forcing him to choose between his morals and his mortgage. Comedy play from Dan Bishop, writer of smash hit Brainsluts. Previous praise: ‘Bishop writes so well’ **** (Guardian). ‘Laughs come fast and furious’ **** (Stage). ‘Bishop’s witty play could easily be the pilot for a sitcom’ **** (Times).”

WHERE: Above at Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 16:50 (70 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I’ve actually been to quite a few Edinburgh Fringes and this is my second year on the trot. Last year, I brought up my comedy play Brainsluts and as soon as I got home I knew I had to go back. The adrenaline is so addictive. Last year I was performing in the show too, but this year I’m quite glad to be more behind the scenes.

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

Well, last year we were successful enough at Edinburgh that we managed to secure a London transfer! However, after our run, the theatre went into liquidation, and we lost £6.5k… So I suppose the big thing I learned over the past 12 months is that even if you do a really successful show at Edinburgh and get a transfer, you can still lose thousands and thousands of pounds. But something that awful can’t happen two years in a row… can it?

Tell us about your show.

So, Target Audience is a new comedy play about a TV production company which is owned by a tech company with links to a weapons manufacturer. The producers are then tasked with developing a ‘pro-weapons sitcom’ in an attempt to sanitise the image of the defence sector.

The show was inspired by the current domination of big tech companies who seem to have infiltrated all aspects of our lives, particularly our media landscapes and the military industrial complex. Take Amazon for example, they are simultaneously a huge movie studio whilst also owning a platform that hosts AI software used in drone warfare. I find all of this confusing and weird, so I thought I’d try to make it funny.

The cast is composed of four actors who I just find really, really funny. One of them, Molly Windust, is actually my comedy partner – we do a sketch act together called Mudfish. Our venue, Pleasance, are helping produce the show and we really couldn’t have done it without them. Edinburgh will be the show’s debut, but after Fringe, we’re hoping to tour it around the UK and possibly the world.

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

SEE EVERYTHING! This is a chance to experience many of the plethora of shows of the Fringe in a more accessible and affordable online format. Our wonderful friends The Wardrobe Ensemble are presenting The Great Gatsby which has taken on a digital life after live shows were cancelled in January, and which Tamsin from Popelei happens to also star in. Patricia Gets Ready (for a date with a man that used to hit her) also looks incredible. We were lucky enough to see the brilliant Gobby live and we will certainly be re-watching on the sofa with a bag of popcorn.

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EdFringe Talk: Spin Cycle

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

““Spin Cycle” is by lesbians for lesbians (and allies too!). It’s queer, it’s Irish, it’s absurd, and it’s bittersweet- it’s for anyone who has a first love who still spins around in their head.”

WHO: Zofia Zerphy

WHAT: “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets The L Word in this bittersweet, absurdist launderette meet-cute. Eyes lock. Hearts thump. Palms sweat. But something is off. Secrets of the past are whispered, hidden under the thrum of the washing machines – can what’s forgotten be remembered? This OffWestEnd Award-nominated five-star Irish play examines the space between loving someone and not, forgetting and remembering, dirty and clean clothes. A seriously refreshing show on queer love, whirring memory and finding the truth in it all. ***** (AYoungishPerspective.co.uk). Part of the 2026 Culture Ireland Edinburgh Showcase.”

WHERE: Clover at Underbelly, Bristo Square (Venue 302) 

WHEN: 14:25 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This will be our first time in Edinburgh with a show, and we are excited to see how the piece develops by performing it every day in August. I love how the city transforms for the fringe, and, as a theatre kid, it is so incredible to see so many people making and enjoying theatre. Unfortunately, there can also be a lot of pressure around the fringe, and I think it’s important to remember that while this is an opportunity to showcase your work and develop it further, it is also a huge celebration of all the work that has brought us to this point, and we plan on doing an equal amount of celebrating and hustling.

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

The biggest thing that we have learnt in the past 12 months is PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE. Showing up imperfectly is miles better than not showing up because of fear or wanting it to be ‘right’. Social media and networking are tools that can be used to your advantage and connect you with some amazing people that can bring opportunities or even better – friendships!

We are still figuring out the social media part and sometimes ‘putting yourself out there’ can feel relentless, followed by a wall of rejection. Sometimes it’s just a numbers game and you can’t “be in the right place at the right time” if you don’t try and put yourself in as many places at once.

Tell us about your show.

“Spin Cycle” is by lesbians for lesbians (and allies too!). It’s queer, it’s Irish, it’s absurd, and it’s bittersweet- it’s for anyone who has a first love who still spins around in their head. In typical lesbian fashion, Zofia and Rhiannon, who play Kitt and Noel respectively, are a real-life couple. “Spin Cycle” was written by Zofia, but it was co-created and workshopped by the team in three countries over two years to make it the play it is today. It debuted last year at the Camden Fringe to sold-out audiences and 5-star reviews, and we were incredibly grateful for both the audience and critical response. This was followed by an Off West End award win in April of this year, which has propelled us toward Edinburgh at full speed!

There are endless people along the way who have supported us by showing up, providing rehearsal space, feedback, and fundraising support, and we quite literally could not have made it to Edinburgh without them. As for what’s next, that’s a great question. I guess like any lesbian we’d love a nice theatre to ask us to move in with them- we’ve got our U-Haul ready.

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

Our audience should try and see as many shows as they possibly can at Edinburgh Fringe – it is the richest theatre festival and best opportunity to see any kind of show you can imagine. Our “Can’t Miss List” is ‘Redacted’ by Voloz Collective, ‘Trans People are Awful’ by Ros Watt, and ‘Pitch Play’ by Moya Jane Productions .

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EdFringe Talk: Remember, Remember!

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“When you’re working as a collective of 4 writers, you are constantly having to compromise and adapt because we naturally all have different tastes and processes.”

WHO: Lucy Buncombe

WHAT: “Gather around the bonfire, girlies. You think you know the story of the Gunpowder Plot? You don’t! Get ready for an incredibly misinformed, inaccurate retelling of one of Britain’s most infamous tales of treason. Expect hilarious songs, forbidden love and explosive action in this ridiculously camp new musical by WIT? – four razor-sharp actor-writers from Fringe-favourite comedy show, NewsRevue. ‘If Operation Mincemeat and SIX had a child’ ***** (FairyPoweredProductions.com). Winner of the Glitch Award at the Lambeth Fringe 2025 and the Pleasance’s Charlie Hartill Fund 2026.”

WHERE: Queen Dome at Pleasance Dome (Venue 23) 

WHEN: 17:15 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

It’s WIT?’s first time taking a show up to the fringe, however a few of us have gone up in previous years as audiences and performed in other shows. We’re really excited to be heading up to the festival and have the opportunity to share Remember, Remember! with wider audiences and see how the show lands. I think what makes EdFringe so special is the sheer quantity and variety of productions on offer – there’s no place like it.

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

As a company we’ve definitely learned more and more about how to adapt and evolve with each iteration of the show. We’ve performed several short runs of Remember, Remember! in various theatres, and each time we’re tweaking and tailoring, and really fine tuning down to the last second so the piece is as strong and as current as it can be. I think when you’re working as a collective of 4 writers, you are constantly having to compromise and adapt because we naturally all have different tastes and processes, so we’ve really learned how to truly collaborate as a team.

Tell us about your show.

Remember, Remember! is a comedy musical about the Gunpowder Plot. It follows the story of Robert Catesby, our unlikely protagonist, who was the true mastermind behind the infamous tale of treason. Audiences can expect hilarious songs, forbidden love and explosive action in our incredibly silly, very camp show. It also features the voice of Sir Stephen Fry as the Narrator!

Our theatre company WIT? first met in 2024, working on NewsRevue together. We started co-writing the show in 2025 and took it to Lambeth Fringe, then to the Old Red Lion for Bonfire night, and then to HullTruck. We are currently co-producing the show with the Pleasance after winning the Charlie Hartill Fund this year, which has opened so many doors in so many ways. After Edinburgh, we are transferring the show to the Pleasance in November – (perfect for Bonfire Night!) and then we’d love to tour it elsewhere.

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

I absolutely love what TheatreGoose are doing and am very excited to watch The Plot that’s on at Summerhall – another show about the Gunpowder Plot! Emma Howlett is fantastic, and actors Sophie and Abby are both beyond brilliant.

I also can’t wait to watch Thermodrama from Love Lock Productions, at Summerhall. Their previous production BLANDY was one of my favourites last year – it was so excellent – and Coco Cottam’s writing is 10/10, so I think this will be equally as exciting. And it’s set in a sauna?!?!

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EdFringe Talk: The Tao of Lloyd

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“I’m finally at a point in my career where I’m making the thing that pleases me.”

WHO: Dennis Trainor Jr

WHAT: “Boombox romantic, Lloyd Dobler (Say Anything) returns! Seriously unserious, devoutly disobedient, still refusing to buy, sell or process anything. Now a Zen-punk dissident duct-taping ancient spiritual wisdom to the collapse of the American empire, with deep gratitude and zero credentials, like a sticky note saying: ‘Be kind. Rewind. Revolt’. Join Lloyd in a kinda-sorta guided meditation to survive late-stage effin’ everything… Like a vinyl record spinning in a microwave of manifest destiny, humming: ‘Oh well. Whatever. Never-mind.’ Written and performed by Dennis Trainor Jr. (Manifest Destiny’s Child), directed by Olivier winner Guy Masterson.”

WHERE: Drawing Room at Assembly Rooms (Venue 20) 

WHEN: 12:25 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No, this is my second time bringing a solo show to the Fringe. I came in 2023 with Manifest Destiny’s Child, which was one of the great artistic adventures of my life. Scotland very kindly responded with generous audiences, thoughtful conversations, and enough 4- and 5-star reviews to trick me into coming back.

What I love about the Fringe is that it rewards the strange, the urgent, and the deeply specific. A great festival makes room for the thing that maybe shouldn’t work on paper but absolutely has to be done. That’s what brings me back.

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

The big lesson I’ve learned is that, yes, I would love great reviews and a small avalanche of five-star ratings—but also, f*ck that.

I’m finally at a point in my career where I’m making the thing that pleases me. I hope it pleases a lot of other people too, obviously, but I wrote the play I wanted to see onstage. Rick Rubin talks about making work for yourself first, because your own creative response is the only thing you can actually control. I can’t control the reviews, the audience, the weather, the ticket sales, or whether someone sitting in the front row decides halfway through that they hate me.

I can control whether I follow my own artistic impulses honestly. And I can honestly say that I’ve done that with this show.

Have I fully absorbed that lesson? Ask me again after the first two-star review.

Tell us about your show.

The Tao of Lloyd is written and performed by me, Dennis Trainor Jr, and directed by Olivier Award winner Guy Masterson, who is also presenting the show through Theatre Tours International.
The play grew out of my podcast of the same name, which combines political satire, guided meditation, Gen X mythology and the Tao Te Ching into a weekly attempt to remain human during late-stage America. The stage show takes that world and pushes it into a darker, funnier, and much more theatrical realm.

Guy and I first worked together on my 2023 Fringe show, Manifest Destiny’s Child, and this feels like picking up a conversation we started there: about power, complicity, American collapse, and how we somehow keep living inside systems we swear we’re resisting.

This is the world premiere. We’ll have preview performances in England before Edinburgh, but Assembly George Street is where the production officially meets the world. After that, the plan is modest: you know… tour it internationally, turn it into a Netflix special, and become successful enough that I can finally stop describing unpaid artistic labour as “development.” The universe may have other plans, of course, in which case I’ll need to change my name to avoid the mountain of credit-card debt I’m accumulating to make this show.

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

After everyone comes to see The Tao of Lloyd, here are a few shows that I’m interested in, and, if you’ve read this far, chances are you might be interested in them as well:
I loved Truth’s a Dog Must to Kennel when I saw it in 2022, and will most definitely be going back this year for its limited run. It is a fiercely intelligent and deeply funny show that challenges the question of why—or whether—we should still be gathering together to make theatre at all.

An Echo in the Void sounds like a darkly funny AI thriller about memory and identity, and it comes from the producers of BLUE, one of the shows I absolutely loved at the Fringe in 2023.

Don’t You Forget About Me sounds like a sharp, nostalgic identity crisis built around The Breakfast Club—which, as a Gen X theatre person still arguing with the movies that raised me, feels unavoidable.

Baby Everything sounds like a hypochondria-fuelled doomscroll through American collapse—which is exactly what inspired me to write my show, The Tao of Lloyd.

ALOK: Eat Pray Leave looks like a razor-sharp comedy about love, heartbreak, poor decisions and the end times. So, right up my alley/

Boy in a Box sounds like a provocative American solo show about race, history, and the stories a country tells itself to avoid confronting its own culpability.

Also, I’m part of Guy Masterson’s lineup, so yes, I’m going to shamelessly plug the other four shows presented by Guy Masterson: Scaramouche Jones, Call Me Elizabeth, Ludwig: Unfinished Business, and 11½ Angry Men.

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EdFringe Talk: Stephen Catling: Clown Fish Out Of Water

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“Nothing is too niche or too bizarre for the fringe and my new show is implicitly a love letter to that.”

WHO: Stephen Catling

WHAT: “When clowns can’t breathe water and fish can’t breathe air – what’s a poor Clown Fish to do in this cruel world? In 2025, Catling (Keep It Fringe Award Winner 2023, Malcolm Hardee Award Nominee 2023 and 2025) lost his slug mask. It was an essential part of his cult hit show Moving On…Really Really Slowly. This time, Stephen explores his life now that Autism has been “unmasked”, as well as his fin flapping rage against an increasingly soulless entertainment industry. Who knows what is going to be in store?”

WHERE: Wee Container 1 at Hoots @ Potterrow (Venue 243) 

WHEN: 22:30 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is not my first rodeo in fact this is my third full Edinburgh Fringe run and my 5th time as a performer and 6th time coming if you include puntering.

What makes the Edinburgh fringe so wonderful and special is that the festival is like a surrealist fever dream, you can see shows where people are talking about their lives in more conventional standup , to musicals about a plant named Potty who is in love with human. You can see the wonderful minds and characters like my friends Phil O’Shea or Rob Duncan and his printer and watch cult sensations like the magnificent beast that is John Robertson who oozes with anarchic fun and energy.

Likewise as a performer it is a chance to do the thing that I love everyday many people who will then adore you or be baffled and befuddled as you break their sense of reality as you bring them into your own world. It is a hotbed of imagination, dreams and nightmares. What’s not to love? And if you see something you don’t love, who gives a fuck? It was only an hour max there is probably another 10 shows that will resonate with you and you might just find something that is truly special and unique. Nothing is too niche or too bizarre for the fringe and my new show is implicitly a love letter to that.

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

It has been said “No man is an island” and this is why I am proud to say I am working with my producers Ingenious fools to take on board some of the pressure of the Fringe for me ; Susanna and Jen do excellent work.

I have also learnt to take even greater risks in my comedy and play with the audience even more though I do not wish to reveal all within this interview.

Tell us about your show.

The show New Show which is my third is called Clown Fish Out Of Water , it’s either about not fitting in society as an autistic individual either within my day jobs or sometimes in the entertainment industry which is valuing less creativity and invention and more relying on what is safe such as cashing in on nostalgia or might be just an excuse for me to do a Bunch of silly shit.

The show is written by myself, directed by the wonderful Phil Green and is produced by the fine folk of Ingenious Fools. Phil has directed all 3 of my Edinburgh Fringe show and Ingenious Fools came in after mutual recommendations that made us want to collaborate, probably due to the successes of the first two cult hit shows Beehavioural Problems… something something autism and Moving on…really really slowly, both of which got Malcolm Hardee nominations for comic originality.

This new show has actually done more previews then any of my previous shows and has also done festivals I have never done before such as Cambridge Fringe. After the Fringe it will do Birmingham and Nottingham Comedy festivals. It is my dream to get a Soho theatre run, either for the alumni festival or The London clown festival.

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

You must go see Molly McGuinness and Paul Campells cult show Heron Foods at Monkey Barrell, now if my word alone is not good enough I like to highlight Molly is an Edinburgh comedy award nominee and also helps in the writing and directing of Joe Kent-Walters aka Frankie Monroe (who you should also see because he is absolutely brilliant and his manic energy and charisma is out of this world) and Paul is a great surrealist comic mind who won the Malcolm Hardee award and knows his supermarkets (his show last year was on Somerfield).

Other people I would love to give some love are Consignia because they are truly the bravest most daring of comics on the circuit bar none. I will also recommend Nate Kitch , Lil Wenker , Dru Cripps, Bec Hill , Jordan Brookes and Paul Hilleard as they are all fun and inventive folk in their comedy.

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EdFringe Talk: Rob Preston: Amazing Global Solutions

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“I think a great festival is one where don’t overextend, take it easy, take it at a nice pace, you’re there for a month so just cool your jets.”

WHO: Robert Preston

WHAT: “Character comedian Rob Preston just wants everything to be perfect again. Join him and his unlikely cadre of alter-egos on their quest to dominate the content space, end mental health and bring lasting international peace to the entirety of the globe globally. A big ask? Sure. But someone’s got to pull their finger out. BBC New Comedy Award and Pleasance Reserve Shortlist. Soon to appear in Leo Reich’s Channel 4 and A24 sitcom It Gets Worse. Star of Fringe 2025 sell-out comedy play Brainsluts: **** (Guardian). **** (Times). **** (List). ‘Crowd favourite’ (BroadwayWorld.com).”

WHERE: Below at Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33) 

WHEN: 20:20 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No! I performed twice when I was at Uni with The Leeds Tealights sketch comedy group in 2018 and 2019, then last year I was in the play Brainsluts which reignited my love of the Fringe. When I was at Uni I was basically drunk for an entire month, I was so ill from about day 3, it’s remarkable I survived. Last year was a much more professional affair which was nice! I think a great festival is one where don’t overextend, take it easy, take it at a nice pace, you’re there for a month so just cool your jets.

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

I’ve learned that I am a procrastinator and a perfectionist, but that both of those are KEY blockers to ever creating anything. I think I’ve overcome them – largely – but need to keep an eye on them. Sometimes I do need to clean my shoes and put several washes on though, sometimes I actually do need to do that.

Tell us about your show.

It’s been a while in the making. It’s sort of an amalgam of stuff I did when I was a stand up, mixed with all newer character stuff. I did a VERY rough version of it as a WIP last year which was so useful and really got me on the path to the finished show today (at the time of writing the show isn’t finished but I anticipate it will be by start of Fringe, right? right??) It’s being produced by the unbelievably brilliant Queenie Miller who has made the whole process so smooth and easy, and directed by Dan Bishop who also wrote Brainsluts last year – he’s got another play this year too, Target Audience, the guy is addicted to writing acerbic satires. I’d love to take it SOMEWHERE after Edinburgh but nothing confirmed yet. Maybe a mini tour of despotic nations. North Korea. Belarus.

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

The list grows every day as I see and hear about more exceptional comics who are taking shows up. In no particular order. Em Humble. Emmeline Downie. Maia Tassalini. Target Audience. Rockpools. Freddie Meredith. Ele McKenzie. Rory Marshall. Dom McGovern. Marty Gleeson. Rosalie Minnitt. Burger & Pint. Will & Noah. Bella Hull. Josh Glanc! There are so many.

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EdFringe Talk: Dinosaurs

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“I’ve learned that I need to make rest a priority and be intentional with my time.”

WHO: Mandy Rubeli

WHAT: “Dinosaurs begins when Claire comes home to an unexpected guest: a real-life dinosaur rummaging through her apartment. After retracing her steps, she concludes the dinosaur is a strange manifestation of unresolved trauma she carries after being sexually assaulted as a teenager. Claire then determines the only way to send the dinosaur back in time is to find closure. For fear that the very fabric of time and space could collapse at any moment, her quick solution is to confront her abuser, and somehow, what she discovers in the process is even more unexpected than a spontaneously appearing dinosaur.”

WHERE: Thistle Theatre at Greenside @ Riddles Court (Venue 16) 

WHEN: Varies (50 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I first came to Edinburgh in high school, when I performed with my high school theatre troupe. Returning now, after studying theatre in college and growing as a performance artist in Los Angeles, feels like a homecoming. I’m really excited to experience the Fringe with fresh eyes and discover how it continues to challenge, inspire, and transform me as an artist.

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

Over the past year, I’ve learned that I need to make rest a priority and be intentional with my time. The Fringe is full of incredible opportunities, but I can’t say yes to everything. Staying focused on my “why” helps me decide which shows, events, and experiences I want to prioritize. I’m not sure I’ve fully absorbed those lessons yet, but I’m hoping Edinburgh will be a great place to try putting them into practice.

Tell us about your show.

The Nightmare Lizards are a collective of multifaceted artists specializing in creating work that is absurd, existential, and somehow, still sort of funny. They have produced several ensemble pieces at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, each earning critical acclaim and multiple accolades, amassing a total of ten awards and nominations. Their work has been featured in over fifteen local and international publications and highlighted on two podcasts. Certified reviewers have praised their work, with one calling their sophomore piece Dinosaurs, “The best play I have ever seen.”

Dinosaurs is a dark comedy about time travel, healing your inner child, and revenge, written and produced by Nightmare Lizards founder Mandy Rubeli. The show begins when Claire comes home to an unexpected guest: a real-life dinosaur rummaging through her apartment. After retracing her steps, she concludes the dinosaur is a strange manifestation of unresolved trauma she carries after being sexually assaulted as a teenager. Claire then determines the only way to send the dinosaur back in time is to find closure. For fear that the very fabric of time and space could collapse at any moment, her quick solution is to confront her abuser, and somehow, what she discovers in the process is even more unexpected than a spontaneously appearing dinosaur. The piece has been performed twice at the Hollywood Fringe, and we hope to keep touring the piece after Edinburgh.

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

Two shows I’m especially excited about are Mark Vigeant’s Out There and Greg Nussen’s QWFWQ. They are both fantastic artists whose work has thrived at Hollywood Fringe. Mark’s work will make you laugh so hard it hurts, and Greg’s piece will take you on an introspective journey through your mind that will leave you feeling transformed.

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Bedfringe 2026 Interview: Avoid Excessive Cleavage (and Other Advice to Ignore)

Posted in *Written Interviews, Bedfringe 2026 by

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“I work hard, knock on doors and try to put myself forward, whilst simultaneously battling crippling imposter syndrome and a world determined to make anyone over 40 feel like they’ve had their chance!”

WHO: Jules O’Brian

WHAT: “Avoid Excessive Cleavage (and Other Advice to Ignore) is a warm, witty stand-up show about ageing, expectations, and the endless stream of “helpful” advice we’re all supposed to follow as we get older.

Now in her fifties, Jules O’Brian finds herself on the receiving end of guidance she never asked for: what to wear, how to behave, how to age gracefully, and which inspirational quotes she should apparently be living by. From well-meaning strangers to glossy headlines and social media wisdom, everyone seems keen to explain how life should be done. Jules has had enough.

“Razor-sharp observations – Jules has it all: intelligence, wit, and utterly hilarious.” JO ENRIGHT

With sharp observational comedy and a quietly rebellious edge, she dismantles the rules, clichés and motivational nonsense that clutter modern life. Expect big laughs, moments of recognition, and a quietly rebellious take on the rules we’re all expected to follow.”

WHERE: Quarry Theatre

WHEN: 25 July 2026 @ 13:00 (50mins)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Bedfringe?

It is, but I’ve gigged in and around Bedford a lot, and always have a lovely time with the audiences. I work with Castle Comedy quite a bit and their Bedford shows are always fab.

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

The past couple of years have been a bit of a whirlwind. You know how, when things are actually happening, you just take them in your stride and crack on – then you look back and go, “Ooh that was quite a time, wasn’t it?!” Well…that. Like anyone else who wants to do well, I work hard, knock on doors and try to put myself forward, whilst simultaneously battling crippling imposter syndrome and a world determined to make anyone over 40 feel like they’ve had their chance! But I was 52 in 2024, and that’s when things started to happen. I was flown out to Switzerland to perform over there, I got booked to do Altitude Festival in Austria, my show really started to come together, regular appearances on BBC radio started back then, and I’m travelling all over the country all the time! (My little Hyundai i10 is small but mighty – she’s seen my breakdowns at 1am when there are motorways closures but no diversion signs or map updates… I shudder just thinking about it!)

Tell us about your show.

So my show is called “Avoid Excessive Cleavage (and other advice to ignore).” Once I turned 40 – and I think this is happening to women even younger now – I started getting bombarded by advice I’d never asked for about how I should be aging: mostly, it boils down to DO NOT AGE! However, if you must age, stick a big paper bag over your head so we don’t have to see your wrinkles, laughter lines, droopy knees…the list is endless.

The title comes from a genuine piece of advice in one of those articles, “Avoid excessive cleavage; just wear a nice blouse.” So patronising! So I wrote a show about how much I hate the anti-aging industry, even though I buy into it a lot of the time.

I don’t have any answers and I’m definitely not telling anyone how they should choose to age! I just have fun with the whole thing, instead of driving myself mad.

My absolute hero Elizabeth Hurley makes an appearance (in cardboard cutout form), and I just have a right old laugh with the audience about how bonkers some of the advice we get given actually is. “Hide laughter lines”? Yeah…god forbid anyone knows you’ve been enjoying yourself!

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

Hasan Al-Habib is also in The Quarry Theatre Studio with his show “Stuck in the Middle (East) With You.” He’s very funny, very clever, and very much deserves a full house.

Pat Monahan, again, 23rd July in The Quarry Theatre Studio. I just love Pat. Audiences adore him. It’s impossible not to have a good time when he’s on stage. And he makes it look effortless – like he’s just messing about. Actually, I hate him. What am I talking about? It’s not fair that some people are just so damned good at comedy!

And on 26th July you’ve got the Best of Castle Comedy: Angela Barnes, Laura Smyth and Josh Pugh. All of them disgracefully good at comedy. Definitely go. I’m not at all offended that it’s “The best of Castle Comedy” and I gig for them a lot, and I even mentioned them in this interview, and I’m not on their list. No, really, I’m fine. It’s fine!

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