Author Archives: Dan Lentell

EdFringe Talk: Gagula: The Panto with Teeth!

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“The first Fringe I did was probably the best week of my life – it was so intense, and just a life goal to perform comedy in front of a paying audience.”

WHO: Mackenzie Galbraith

WHAT: “An inept lawyer, his strait-laced girlfriend, a Dutch polymath, two sock puppets and an asylum owner walk into a castle. What could go wrong? When the not-at-all sinister Countess Gagula and her manservant Igor invite Jonathan Harker to help with… “acquisitions”, he and his gang find themselves thrust into a battle between good and as much evil as we can pull off under a 12+ age rating. Gagula: The Panto with Teeth! is a 50-minute romp through Victorian Europe, packed with jokes, blood and audience participation! It’s Dracula. It’s pantomime. What more could you want?”

WHERE: Willow Studio at Greenside @ Riddles Court (Venue 16) 

WHEN: 11:40 (50 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

As a company, this is our second Fringe, but for me personally, it is my fifth Fringe bringing a show and sixth visiting.

My first visit to the Fringe was what sold me on comedy writing as both a pastime and as a career path. Just being sat in the backroom of a church seeing a comedian I vaguely recognised from the radio with such a varied group of people and laughing – and thinking, yeah, this is probably what I want to do with my life.

The scale of the Fringe, the absolute variety of it, and the platform it provides to smaller acts and companies is what makes it so special, along with the fact that it is such a historically storied event – it commands a lot of cultural capital and there is something very cool about telling people that you are doing the Fringe festival.

Even if you are only doing your show for ten people, it truly legitimises you as a creative – and you’re experiencing that in a city that swells to 3x its population across hundreds of venues and thousands of shows from early morning to midnight.

The first Fringe I did was probably the best week of my life – it was so intense, and just a life goal to perform comedy in front of a paying audience. Out from 9am, doing two shows, seeing comedy, theatre and music in places that wouldn’t normally be showing them and then going out to a bar or a club, stumbling home at 3am and then doing it all again. I remember my voice was so hoarse that by the end of the week, I couldn’t speak to anybody because I couldn’t be heard.

The thing about the Fringe is that everyone does it completely differently – that might be my experience, people might come in for one or two big ticket shows or go back-to-back all day. Everyone can engage with it and experience the Fringe in their own way, and that’s so special.

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

Always have a show concept before you have a show name – as a writer, it’s much easier to write when you know what the general idea of the play is rather than trying to make something fit a pun that you thought of.

Crucially, everything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

12 months ago, I was writing, directing, producing and acting in a show, and trying to move house with a broken phone. Main lesson: never do that again.

Make sure your tech isn’t submitting her Masters thesis and also moving house two days before the show.

Make sure your actors are full of cold medicine – if one of them gets the flu, they all get the flu.

So, yes, give yourself as much time as you can to fix things when problems arise – because they will, and it is almost always things you would never had anticipated.

Otherwise:

Always start early.

50 minutes is an evil time slot. As a writer, yes, unfortunately, you do have to cut things.

Have a scary producer who can make colour coded schedules and spreadsheets – and, crucially, knows where you live. Healthy fear is a good motivator. (Producer’s note: I am nice, promise <3)

Basically, last year was for figuring things out. This year was for doing all the things I wish I had done last year (correctly).

Have we truly absorbed any lessons? Questionable.

P.S. yes, we do understand that by saying that we have learned from our mistakes of last year and that things are now more or less fine, something is about to go dramatically wrong… come see the show to see what that is, hopefully we don’t have to Weekend at Bernie’s an actor.

We do have fun, promise.

Tell us about your show.

After the most tumultuous Fringe run, possibly of all time (not to be exaggerated), I (the writer) vowed that I would never do the Fringe ever again. Then my mum asked me, over dinner, what’s next? I said no, not doing it again.

And yet.

Immediately post cast party and show celebration, like a paladin receiving visions from an angry god, the idea of Dracula but it’s a pantomime came to me.

I started to pace around our (writer and producer) living room (like I am doing now, whilst my producer types this all down), and after two hours of walking, talking and generally shaking my head and gnashing my teeth, the concept for Gagula was born.

A month and a half and a full read of Bram Stoker’s Dracula later, we had a full script. And here we are now, I guess.

The main idea for the show is what if Dracula were a pantomime dame, and every time she bit someone, they became a panto character too. It’s a fun, heightened, farcical version of Bram Stoker’s text, lovingly hacked into a 50 minute time slot that just gets bigger, and weirder, and sillier as the show goes on. There are sock puppets, all the gags you’d expect from a classic panto, fake teeth, a pop up coffin and a bag of 1000 communion wafers.

Pig’s Ear sort of came out of a successful Fringe done under another blanket – the Mermaids Performing Arts Fund through the University of St Andrews, where most of the Production Team met. We thought why not give it a go, it’ll be a bit of fun. We are still a relatively new company, but independently, all of the cast and all the creatives involved have a lot of theatre experience, and most have Fringe experience which makes it great to experience as a group.

I’ve done five Fringes – three years of improv comedy with Blind Mirth, and this is my third written show that is going up. It is still just as terrifying every single time – but that’s what makes it worth doing, and that’s what makes it fun (apparently).

This is Leia’s (our producer’s) second Fringe as a producer, second show with the company and third Fringe show on the Production Team. She is also moonlighting as our technician, costumer and makeup artist, among other things.

This show is premiering at the Fringe and we would love to scale it up in the future – whether that be stay in Edinburgh, and scale up to bigger theatres, do a longer run at the Fringe in the future or similar. Obviously it would be a dream to tour the show, or translate it into a (not so) short film. There is also always the nearly 2 hour version of the script…

There’s a lot in there that people are going to enjoy and get a lot out of, and I would like it to be seen by as many people as possible.

We think it’s good fun, we hope you will too!

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

Generally, we’d say catch the interestingly large amount of other Dracula inspired shows at Fringe this year, seems there has been a bit of a hive mind formed…

Other than that, you should totally go see:

Moving On: A New Musical – a new musical by Happy Sad Productions, who recently put on an amazing production of Spamalot at Portobello Town Hall so we’re excited to see what they’re doing next (you may also have seen one of our cast as one of their immensely talented featured dancers)

Waiting for Wonka – this is being directed by our fantastic intimacy and fight co-ordinator, so we think it’s pretty self explanatory why we’d love you to go and see this one!

A Brief History of Musical Theatre – featuring our multi-talented publicist, the executive PT took a little group trip to see the company’s production of Footloose at the end of last year – if the quality of that was anything to go by, this should be an amazing show!

The PowerPop Girls: A New Diva Religion – put the word camp in your show description and we’re there.

Support grassroots theatre!!

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EdFringe Talk: Fool’s Goldmine

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“I’m addicted to Fringe. I will keep writing new shows until the ideas or I expire (whichever one comes first).”

WHO: Stacie Burrows

WHAT: “Stacie Burrows was blissfully growing up rich in 1980s Houston, Texas, only to find out it wasn’t real. The phone rang constantly. Why wouldn’t her parents answer? She adores her father, though he made every financial blunder under the sun. She swore to never live like that. And yet, she’s deep in debt, raising her own family in Los Angeles where wealth is on display. Instead of keeping up with the Joneses, she’s just trying to keep up with herself, remaining true to the roots that matter. Burrows goes from well-to-do to well-to-don’t in this solo music show.”

WHERE: Sprout Studio at Greenside @ George Street (Venue 236) 

WHEN: 19:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Nope! This is my 4th Fringe show (new work!) in 5 years

I took Bulletproof Unicorn in 2022, Laughable in 2024, and No Good Drunk in 2025.

I’m addicted to Fringe. I will keep writing new shows until the ideas or I expire (whichever one comes first). I love meeting artists from all over the world along with seeing all my Edinburgh local friends. It’s the loveliest reunion.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a phenomenal festival because the artists have access to so many resources, The Fringe Marketplace, especially. Artist support is so appreciated, too. The Fringe is well-staffed and well organized. It didn’t become the world’s premiere Fringe festival without a lot of effort and a compounding positive reputation.

As a producer/performer, I’m quite happy to see my little show represented alongside of the GIANTS of Fringe – I’m not talking the well-established comedians, but rather those of us who show up year after year with a new offering.

As a punter, good lord, there is no other place in the world that offers such broad choices from music to theatre to dance, to clowning.

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

I have learned to let go of the illusion of control. I have learned to level my expectations of myself and others. And, because of Fool’s Goldmine, I have become extremely thrifty. Because the show is about living beyond your means, I have embraced letting my friends know that I’m Broke and still finding ways to socialize and have a good time without spending gobs of money.

Tell us about your show.

The inception of Fool’s Goldmine was one simple song that I put into a some of my music shows. It always got a lot of positive feedback and audiences wanted to know more about the meaning of it. I would always get a little choked up while performing it, so it was clear there was a lot behind it. So, one song became 9, and the stories that connect the original music really tell my truth about growing up a “rich kid” in the 80’s in Houston, Texas. From afar, we looked loaded, but it was a façade.

I’m self-producing again. I feel comfortable in the role for Fringe, but I would love to add a professional producer to my work moving forward. I can wear the hat, but it’s not my favorite.

I workshopped Fool’s Goldmine at the Hollywood Fringe in June 2026. It was helpful to see what worked, what could be cut, what needed finessing.

My intrepid director Katierose Donohue Enriquez and I have worked on my two previous shows. She’s whip-smart and we work really well together. Her solo show Queen of Fishtown blew me away and I began stalking her immediately!

My music co-writer is Sam Small. Sam and I have been friends for years, performing in a local rock cover band in Topanga, Canyon called Kummerspeck as well as drinking whiskey til dawn. We started writing together during COVID, so we could keep our wits about us.

My sound engineer Kevin Jarvis (Sonic Boom Room, Venice, CA) is an absolute dream. Not only does he offer the most gorgeous, iconic room to record, he also generously plays drums on the album. I pinch myself quite often to remind myself that this is my team.

My tech & lighting designers, Cat Pitt and Claire German are a force! With the development of the work, the script changes daily and so do the cues. But they always accommodate me without making me feel like a chore.

After Fringe, I’m taking the show to London. I’m talking with a couple of producers there and working out all the details. I’d love to tour the show as well.

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

“Be Good!” with Paulette
Daniel Maseda plays the part of a kind-hearted fool who is desperate to “get it right” And by “it,” I mean EVERYTHING: from entering a room to walking to the stage to finishing the show. But he won’t do anything without your permission. It’s fun to watch Maseda interact with audience members. And, man, if you’re not into the show, he’ll acknowledge it and make you the absolute target for the humor. I can’t remember being more pleasantly surprised or thoroughly entertained.

Jessica Barton “Dirty Work”
Jessica Barton takes the simple premise of being tired of picking up after other people’s messes and makes a huge statement about it. Lots of audience participation, here and I’m here for it. She cleverly makes her subtle point and almost brought me to tears with the message. But, I won’t spoil it for you. Go! See Dirty Work, but for god’s sake, clean up after yourself when you leave the room!

“Blizzard” by Piotr Sikora
Polish clown Piotr Sikora is one of those artists that will always be the first show I book at Fringe. He makes a bold character choice right at the top that might make some worry for their own well-being or safety, but much like a timid animal who barks first, then licks your face, he endears himself to the audience with such a shocking pivot, that you root for him and wind up adoring him. This is a HIGH ENERGY show that will remain in your conscious long after the Fringe has ended.

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EdFringe Talk: Join the Club! A Story About the Sex You Never Wanted

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“It’s so much harder to get people to see your show if you’ve only got a team of one or two as opposed to five or more.”

WHO: Erica Jensen

WHAT: “One woman’s journey to reclaim agency after trauma, blending humour and heartbreak to transform silence, shame and survival into connection and empowerment. Between hook-ups, vibrators and Tinder, she navigates the chaotic hellscape of modern dating. With wit and no-holds-barred honesty, it confronts a culture of sexual misbehaviour while celebrating resilience and desire. Raw, funny and disarmingly intimate, it asks the unaskable – like whether survivors should wear matching sashes – and invites audiences to laugh, reflect and heal alongside her as she rewrites her story on her terms.”

WHERE: Snug at Paradise in Augustines (Venue 152) 

WHEN: Varies (45 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

We’re so excited to participate in this year’s Edinburgh Fringe! This is our first time attending (first time in Scotland!) and we’re looking forward to the energy and excitement of being in a mush of thousands of shows. We’re excited to support other artists, and we can’t wait to perform our show at Paradise Green. The folks at Paradise Green have been so supportive. We just found out that our show was chosen to be part of the Taste of Paradise Green which gives us the opportunity to share a bit of our show with the people who will also have shows at PG. Our show runs about 30 minutes (only 30 minutes!) and the subject matter is heavy, but it’s also very funny. Kate (the writer and performer) is super charming and I think audiences will connect with her and her story.

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

First, it takes A LOT of work to produce a show. A LOT! There are so many things we’ve learned and continue to learn. Fundraising was tough, but I think I smart thing we did was over budget so when we didn’t reach our goal, we still raised enough to pay for the necessities. Marketing materials have cost more than just about everything else, which was a learning. Booking a good PR person has made a huge difference. My advice to others is to book your PR person early – they book up fast. I’d also advise budgeting for flyer distribution help if you are a solo show. It’s so much harder to get people to see your show if you’ve only got a team of one or two as opposed to five or more.

Tell us about your show.

Our show, JOIN THE CLUB! A STORY ABOUT THE SEX YOU NEVER HAD is a solo show written and performed by Kate Daley. I (Erica Jensen) am the producer of the play, and Kate was my student. This piece was originally her college thesis project, and I advised her on it. I loved the piece and encouraged her to get it out in the world. Producing in NYC is very difficult, and some friends had just done Edinburgh and they talked with us about how to produce a show for the Fringe. We doing a three-performance run in NYC before we head to Scotland. We don’t know where the winds will take us after Edinburgh, but it would be great to have a run in the States, maybe a tour of colleges or other festivals.

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

After our show, folks should see THE LADY DOTH PROTEST. I’m excited for that one.

LIZZY SUNSHINE looks great. She gave us great advice about the Festival and we’re excited to support her!

THIS IS NOT HANSEL AND GRETEL was directed by a dear friend so I’m super excited about that one, too!

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EdFringe Talk: Bride To Be

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“Between cake tastings, DJs, and the relentless expectations of family and tradition, what begins as an ordinary engagement gradually transforms into a much deeper journey of self-discovery.”

WHO: Meg Millane

WHAT: “After the success of her debut five-star solo show, Meg Millane is at it again with a new sharp, character-driven comedy about a woman deep in wedding planning. As she navigates cakes, DJs and family expectations, she unravels the history and cultural weight of marriage, forcing herself to confront what commitment actually means to her. Torn between spectacle and substance, she must decide if she’s planning a wedding… or redefining it. Meg has been described as ‘quite literally a star’ (BeyondTheCurtain.co.uk) and having ‘the energy of a chihuahua who’s had a triple shot espresso’ (EvulveProductions.com).”

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

WHEN: 19:40 (55 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This will be my second appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. I had so much fun in 2024 with my first show and was inspired by all the talent! There is something so special about having a gazillion artists in one place pouring their hearts out. I am thrilled to be going back with more knowledge and insight as to how the festival runs. And I fear I will always be concerned about selling enough tickets, so just knowing that is a constant in all performers’ lives and moving on.

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

One big lesson I’ve learned is that experience = confidence, so don’t be too hard on yourself when trying something new. For example the first year I did the NYC Fringe I was very anxious, running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I was worried about EVERYTHING the reviews, the tech, the ticket sales. This year I felt so calm doing the same festival because I knew what to expect and how to ration my energy.

Tell us about your show.

My show, Bride To Be, is a character-driven comedy that follows a woman swept up in the whirlwind of wedding planning. Between cake tastings, DJs, and the relentless expectations of family and tradition, what begins as an ordinary engagement gradually transforms into a much deeper journey of self-discovery. I am the writer, performer and producer of this little show alongside my incredible director and co-producer Meaghan McLeod. We call ourselves MMMM productions or QUAD M if you will. Meaghan and I have been friends for awhile and actually met at our day job, teaching group fitness on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. We always wanted to work with each other in a creative capacity and this happened to be the perfect project! This show premiered at the New York City Fringe Festival in April 2026 with glowing reviews from both audience and critics alike. Bride To Be will be heading to the Philadelphia Fringe Festival Sept. 12-13, 19-20 and Soho Playhouse Nov 6-7. You can find more information at www.megmillane.com or @megsi_lee on IG/ threads/ Tik Tok.

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

Olivia Raine Attwood
Olivia is a master storyteller. She has a gift for building and releasing tension in the most satisfactory way. This is her 3rd solo show!!! This woman is unstoppable.

Stacie Burrows
Stacie is such an authentic performer. She is also multifaceted in her ability to incorporate music, humor and storytelling into a performance.

Austin Jennings
Austin is a brilliant actor!! He has a way of bringing the audience in for intimate moments and holding the attention of the room. I am excited to see him shine at his first Fringe!

Liz Coin
Liz my fellow midwestern princesses, has a way of interacting with the audience that is so masterful. The way she plays with the audience is a joy to withhold.

Irene Woo
Irene is so charming! She has such an interesting story to tell and when she is on stage you can’t help but to smile.

Lauren LoGiuduce
Lauren is so unapologetically herself! I love her energy and authenticity on stage. She has a unique voice and isn’t afraid to use it.

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EdFringe Talk: 1518: The Dancing Plague

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“A great festival has lots of water stations, bathrooms, air conditioning (for our American attendees aka us), and places to sit. We’re hoping Edinburgh has some of those items though we are praying for no heat wave.”

WHO: Hannah Ponturo

WHAT: “Get ready to shake your a$$ and dance ‘til you (hopefully don’t) die. 1518: The Dancing Plague is a satirical comedy based on the very real mass hysteria that led to uncontrollable dancing in medieval Europe. As the city of Strasbourg descends into chaos, two (capital P) Peasants, Katherine and Anna, rekindle their long-fractured romance. Meanwhile, authorities and clergy scramble to contain the mysterious outbreak. The chaos of the plague, both absurd and dire, reveals uncanny parallels to the crises of our modern age. Come join us for a dance party you seriously can’t forget!”

WHERE: Studio at theSpaceTriplex (Venue 38) 

WHEN: 21:05 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Yes! It’s our entire cast and production team’s first time at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe! For some of our team it’s their first time across the pond! We are so excited to make the journey for this electric, international, and iconic festival! We have loved getting to connect and meet with other shows over social media. It feels like we’ve created a community even though we haven’t met any of these people yet. Parasocial much? A great festival has lots of water stations, bathrooms, air conditioning (for our American attendees aka us), and places to sit. We’re hoping Edinburgh has some of those items though we are praying for no heat wave.

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

I never learn. Kidding. It’s been wild to realize that there’s never enough time to prepare for a festival like this. The biggest lesson has been to overly-communicate with our team which is something that I will always be working on. Overly explaining isn’t enough you need to overly overly explain. Things can so easily get lost in translation!

Tell us about your show.

1518: The Dancing Plague is a satire about the infamous mass hysteria event that had people uncontrollably dancing (until sometimes death). I (Hannah Ponturo) wrote the first draft as a movie when I was furloughed due to Covid-19. I have since rewritten quite a lot and turned it into a play which seems like its natural home. After waiting for someone to find my work and produce it for years I finally just decided to do it myself. I compiled our team by reaching out to talented and ambitious friends and friends of friends. Our producers are myself, Tallulah Jones, Sophie Smith, and Jeremy Cohen. Together we have created our fantastic production company. We are premiering at the Daredevil Festival in Venice Beach, California in July to two sold-out shows before heading to Scotland. After Fringe, I would love to do a New York production and possibly more shows in LA for those who missed us!

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

Audiences should see… “Never Not Murder” starring one of my fellow Drew University Football Improv Teammates, Mary Ferguson.

(No) Refunds, starring Katy Murphy who has lent me tons of incredible advice on the festival.

I am personally excited to see DearMichelleKwan, CVNTCLAVE, Woman Seeking Cuddles, January 6th the Musical, The Lady Doth Protest, QFWFQ (@gregorynussen), and many more I can’t wait to discover!

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EdFringe Talk: Gridlock

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“I’ve had to wear a lot of hats and learn a lot of new skills in this process.”

WHO: Annika Foster

WHAT: “Gridlock is a one-act play about a couple at a crossroads. They are stuck in traffic – both literally and figuratively. As Alexa and Thomas wait for the traffic to subside, they start reminiscing on moments that shaped their relationship, ultimately trying to answer the questions: how did we get here and where are we going? **** (Herald). **** (AcrossTheArts.co.uk). ****½ (One4Review.co.uk).”

WHERE: Coorie at Gilded Balloon Patter House (Venue 24) 

WHEN: 13:00 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

We are a Scotland based production company who have loved attending Fringe in the past but as performers, producers and artists we are all Fringe newbies! We are so excited to be making our debut with GRIDLOCK and I have a feeling watching other shows this year will hit differently, now that I know all the work that goes into making them possible!

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

The biggest thing I’ve learned is that you can do more than you think you can. As a first time producer and first time Fringe performer, I’ve had to wear a lot of hats and learn a lot of new skills in this process. But I’ve learned that anything is possible when you have the right people behind you. And that is one thing I do know  – I am spoiled rotten when it comes to the creatives, collaborators, and friends I’m surrounded by. As for whether I have absorbed all the big lessons I’ve learned this year (and there have been more than I can count..) only time will tell I think!

Tell us about your show.

GRIDLOCK was based on a very true-to-life screenplay I wrote in 2024 about a personal loss, and changed, adapted and developed for the stage by our talented writer Kathryn Mincer and director Dominique Mabille (the two founding members of KD Film Productions). The play is produced by the three of us at KD Films as well as the wonderful Dorie Magowan. We had two preview runs leading up to Fringe, one in Glasgow in February (that made us believe Fringe would be possible) and one just last month in London, introducing audiences to our new Thomas, Ibrahim Bakhait. After Fringe we have big hopes for GRIDLOCK. We think its cinematic and intimate nature is tailor made for the screen, either as a stand alone piece or a series with room to grow. We also hope to tour the show and further develop the piece for the stage. A three part trilogy has really been tickling my brain space recently… so stay tuned!

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

Go see Tamsyn Kelly’s ‘Rat’s Ass’ at Monkey Barrel and Caitlin O’Ryan’s poetry with SpitNights at theSpace. They’ll both blow you away with their authenticity and talent in entirely different ways and you won’t regret it.

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EdFringe Talk: How to Poop in an Outhouse at -58°C

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“People have said that my show makes them feel like they went on an adventure to the Arctic Circle, and I can’t wait to bring that unique experience to my corner of Edinburgh.”

WHO: Kona Morris

WHAT: “Award-winning storyteller Kona Morris tells the astonishing true story of how she fell in love with a Native Alaskan and moved to a remote village north of the Arctic Circle. Grizzly bears, whirlpools, northern lights and the transformation that happens when you embrace the unknown. Hilarious, exhilarating, heart-warming storytelling that will transport you to the top of the world! And yes, you will learn tips for using an outhouse at -58°C. Winner of five awards from New York City Fringe and Theatre Beyond Broadway, including Audience Choice and Staff Choice. ***** (Frigid.NYC).”

WHERE: Ivy Studio at Greenside @ George Street (Venue 236) 

WHEN: 12:45 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I attended Edinburgh as an audience member last year and absolutely loved it! I was blown away by how the entire city transforms. It’s like no other performing arts experience imaginable. The energy was palpable and I was so inspired by the community of performing artists that I decided to become a part of it this year! People have said that my show makes them feel like they went on an adventure to the Arctic Circle, and I can’t wait to bring that unique experience to my corner of Edinburgh.

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

Ever since I attended Edinburgh Fringe last year and decided to bring my own show this year, I have been in the process of realizing that dream. This year has been evidence, both to myself and others, that I can work hard on a single goal and actually make it happen. From writing a ridiculously long first draft of my show (originally 62,000 words, which had to be cut down to 8,000), to performing it to sold out theatres in New York City and Los Angeles, every step has been a valuable lesson. A big part of that has been changing my mindset from feeling disappointed when something goes wrong, to feeling grateful for the lessons I can learn in the imperfection. Growth is all that matters. Also, with each new production, I have uncovered deeper meanings that have made my story more powerful, and the version I’m bringing to Edinburgh is the best yet.

Tell us about your show.

How to Poop in an Outhouse at -58°C is based on my own experience. It is the true story of how, at 19 years old, I fell in love with an Alaska Native while we were both traveling through Colorado, and I decided to drive him home to northern Alaska, where I ended up living in a remote village north of the Arctic Circle. I have told many short stories about my time in Alaska and every time I did, people asked to hear more. That’s why I wrote a whole solo show about it. It has been an incredible process taking it through two different productions, at the New York City Fringe Fest, where it received critical acclaim and won five awards, including Audience Choice and Staff Choice, and five-star reviews, and in Los Angeles, where it sold out and got a standing ovation. I worked closely with a director in NYC, and I have produced everything myself. Edinburgh will be the international premiere, and first ever production entirely in celsius. 🙂

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

I highly recommend Gail Thomas’ Patient 13 at Playground 2 at ZOO Playground Dome, 7 – 30 August. Seeing Gail’s hilarious, heartfelt, and powerful show changed my life, both personally and professionally. It’s as powerful as a Broadway play, as funny as the best standup I’ve ever seen, and profoundly insightful and touching. It immediately raised the bar for what a solo show is capable of and inspired me to push my own show to go deeper. Gail is a masterful performer and writer with endless talent. You will leave this show feeling inspired by the magical possibilities of life!

And here are some other shows that I also recommend:

Mochinosha’s Book of Shadowz — I saw two other productions this company performed last year and I was blown away by both.

Stacie Burrow’s Fool’s Goldmine — Stacie is a veteran of Edinburgh and brings so much musical talent to her storytelling.

Kristina Libby’s I Almost Died For This?! — from my same director!

Jerry Topitzer’s Once Upon A Wall Street — from my same director!

Sally Brooks’ Stay — from my same director!

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EdFringe Talk: Jess Robinson: Elton Reimagined

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“I’ve become much clearer about what brings me joy and what doesn’t.”

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, Jess returns for her 10th Fringe with her ‘dazzling vocals and wickedly sharp impressions’ ***** (BroadwayWorld.com). ***** (Edinburgh Festivals Magazine). ***** (Edinburgh-Reviews.co.uk). ***** (StageDoorJoe.co.uk). ***** (Edinburgh Evening News). **** (List). **** (Fest). **** (Chortle.co.uk). ‘It’s like a mega concert with all your favourite stars’ (ITV1). ‘Naturally funny, pitch perfect’ (Telegraph).”

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

WHEN: 19:15 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Definitely not! I’ve been coming to Edinburgh for years and I still get that first-day excitement when I arrive. In fact – this is my TENTH YEAR!!

What I love about the Fringe is that anything can happen. You can go and see a big-name act one minute, then wander into a tiny room and discover your new favourite performer the next. As someone who’s spent years both on stage and in the audience, that’s the magic of it for me. . . And the late night shenanigans.

Also, where else would it be perfectly normal to see someone dressed as a Sir Elton Scone, Bob Ross and Margaret Thatcher chatting by some make shift shed dressing rooms?

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

The biggest lesson has probably been that success and fulfilment aren’t always the same thing.

This year I released my book, Life Is Rosi, (published by HarperCollins), which was one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever done. It forced me to stop hiding behind characters and impressions and trust that my own voice was enough. That sounds obvious, but it’s taken me a surprisingly long time to learn!!

I’ve also become much clearer about what brings me joy and what doesn’t. I love connecting with people, telling stories, hosting events, speaking, singing and making audiences feel something. I’m less interested these days in chasing approval from people whose opinions don’t actually matter to me.

Have I actually absorbed the lessons yet? Ask me again next year! I’m definitely a work in progress. But I think I’m getting better at recognising that the things that make me happiest are usually the things that make me most myself – which is a weird sentence for an impressionist.

Tell us about your show.

Elton Reimagined started with a very simple question: what if some of the greatest female artists of all time got their hands on Elton John’s songbook?

So over the course of an hour, Elton’s music is reimagined by one woman (me), 35 divas – (also me) including everyone from Kate Bush and Britney Spears to Adele, Raye, Billie Eilish and Barbra Streisand. It’s part concert, part comedy, part love letter.

I wrote it because I’m a huge Elton fan and because I love finding new ways into familiar songs. The show is co-produced by former Assembly programmer Heather Ruck and me, with musical direction from Matthew Floyd Jones.

It premiered last year and has grown and changed with every performance. After Edinburgh? I’ll keep sharing it with audiences wherever they’ll have us.

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

I’m really looking forward to The Bob Ross Effect by Sarah-Louise Young. Sarah-Louise always creates thoughtful, playful, original work and this one sounds like a lovely celebration of creativity, kindness and happy little accidents.

Katie Pritchard’s Sir Elton Scone is also high on my list. Katie has a brilliantly chaotic comic brain and anyone making a show that combines Elton John and baked goods has my full support.

I’ll always recommend Elf Lyons. She’s one of the most inventive performers I’ve ever seen.

And Rosie Holt is great for smart, sharp, satire.

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EdFringe Talk: Darryl J Carrington: Out of the Box

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“I love the weather, the architecture, the food, the people.”

WHO: Darryl J Carrington

WHAT: “Out of the Box is a multi award-winning family show delighting audiences across the UK; an hour of joyful chaos, jaw-dropping skill and irresistible fun. Named Best Family Show at Brighton Fringe, Darryl J Carrington transforms everyday objects into extraordinary adventures. A toothbrush stars in a balancing act, a string sparks a heist and a tea party lands on someone’s head! With over 20 years of circus and clowning experience, Darryl’s silent comedy blends world-class juggling, inventive physical theatre and heart-warming audience interaction. His humour transcends age and language.”

WHERE: The Wee Coo at Underbelly, George Square (Venue 300) 

WHEN: 13:20 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No, this is not my first time to the festival. I’ve been coming at least 10 years. I started off as a circus performer and doing cabaret and then doing Stand Up at the Free Fringe and I learnt to be a silent clown on the streets in Edinburgh. I absolutely love it up there. I love the weather, the architecture, the food, the people. To me it feels like one big creative university where you can learn so much and gain so much experience. It’s a really special place.

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

One of the biggest things I’ve learnt of the last 12 months is that the size of the audience doesn’t matter. When I went on my first UK tour I was super excited and was hoping for sell out everywhere it went but this didn’t happen everywhere. One of the best lessons I learned was that it doesn’t matter about the size of the audience, but the fact that they’re there in the first place. And I really enjoy making sure that no matter how many people are in the room, we have a really great time together, and I can confidently say that. So the big lesson for me is to not set expectations too high and just every day to have fun with the folks that have been legendary enough to buy a ticket for my show.

Tell us about your show.

Out the Box is my first show that I’ve ever made. It’s a combination of lots of my silly ideas from my time in the Circus and my desire to create a show that had unique tricks, was non-verbal, and had audience participation, but ensuring that the audience members that came on stage felt like the stars of the show. I used to work in ensemble projects, and I really wanted to create a show on my own, so that’s where this idea came from. This is the last year I’m going to be performing the show. We’ve got an autumn tour booked for it, and then I’m going into creation for the new show.

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

You should go and explore the amazing restaurants in Edinburgh for sure! There’s an epic French restaurant down around princess street, the name always alludes me but you’ll know it when you find it!

Shows wise, Bec Hill, is one of my all time favourites, she’s a super silly and fun comic. She’s best known for her musical flip charts. I had no idea you could link art and comedy, it was so inspiring so I always love to see her new shows to see what awesome creation she’s come up with.

Olaf Falafel, again is an incredible illustrator writer and comedian. His family and adult shows both rock. I love his art style and he’s an absolutely solid joke writer!

Spencer Jones, was the first comic I saw doing something that wasn’t what you would describe as straight standup, he used props and music in such a unique and hilarious way. Again, he was a massive inspiration of mine and I’m so excited to catch his new show. The way he’s always able to come up with more awesome ideas is so inspiring to me 🙂

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EdFringe Talk: Making Love with David Magidoff

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“I’m back again with a new set of friends, plus my wife, plus my kid and plus my mother in law.”

WHO: David Magidoff

WHAT: “Each night, David Magidoff (Dexter) interviews a celebrity about a real love story – then he and his ensemble turn it into a fully improvised musical! Three-year sold-out run in LA! ‘Comic Gold!’ (Guardian) ‘Hilarious Improv!’ (Alex Horne) ‘Go See It!’ (Tig Notaro) Confirmed guests include Mark Watson, Fran Healy of Travis, Rosie Jones, Mike Wozniak, Phil Wang, Tim Burgess of The Charlatans, Fatiha El-Ghorri, Ayoade Bamgboye, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Reuben Kaye and more. For full line-up, please visit assemblyfestival.com.”

WHERE: Assembly George Square Studio 2 (Venue 17) 

WHEN: 20:05 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I technically performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (like very far away from the Royal Mile, very far) like a hundred years ago (really 15) to hundreds of people (really 5 or 18 in the audience) and it was still the greatest time ever. Because I was with friends. And I’m back again with a new set of friends, plus my wife, plus my kid and plus my mother in law. At Assembly George Square in the thick of it. It’s gonna be exhausting and It’s gonna be great.

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

That a day doesn’t go by where I haven’t emailed someone with the word “Edinburgh” or “help” in the message. I know I’ll make no money, have all the fun, make sure to rest, and also see every show, and also switch hands with the microphone so you don’t dislocated your shoulder. I’m just honestly thrilled to be hanging out with half the entire cast of Taskmaster.

Tell us about your show.

I love improv and asked myself once “what would be my favorite ever improv show to do?” And I thought 1) it needs be musical 2) it needs to be about love 3) and it needs to have just a handful of us. I stuck to 1) and 2) but now I have like 59 people in my show. But it’s the best. I interview celebrities about a love story and then we re-enact it as a musical. Three year sold out run in Los Angeles. Sold out Netflix is a Joke Fest appearance. And then Fran Healy says he’d do it with me in Edinburgh if I ever wanted to do it there. So here we are. Wild.

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

First, go see all my guests’ shows because it’s only right I pay them back the love they gave me for saying yes to doing my show, also they are all completely fantastic comedians that I adore mainly as an American who’s watched way too much Taskmaster on YouTube:

Mark Watson – Mark doesn’t even need to tell jokes to be funny, he just IS funny. Go see his kids show too which I’m both scared and excited to see.

Fatiha El-Ghorri – When I reached out to ask her to do my show and she went “BRUV yes!” My heart exploded.

Ayoade Bamgboye – I came up to her after a show and asked her to guest and she said “You were born vaginally?” I said yes. “You’re very bold,” she shared.

Phil Wang – He may not wear the yellow jumpsuit from Taskmaster but I promise he’ll make you laugh without showing off his balls quite so tightly.

Rosie Jones – I completely fell in love with Rosie on Taskmaster and if you haven’t seen her, and you live under a rock, then get ready for a good time.

Also see these fantastic Americans, also hilarious, despite being American like me…

Kristen Schaal – I saw this show in LA. It’s magical and she’s a centaur and that’s all I’ll tell you.

Alex Edelman – I also saw his show in LA and you’ll cheer for him as he runs around the stage a million times. You’ll also be exhausted. In a good way. Like after sex and one of my favorite humans ever who’s done my show a million and one times: Brit Barron.

Brit Barron’s CHURCH: Brit performs stand up regularly at all my shows and now she’s taking front and center with her own show and I couldn’t be prouder. Also it’s fucking hilarious and may possibly be the best show at the entire festival. Gilded Balloon 12PM go!!

Casey Feigh’s HOLY SHIT IMPROV: Definitely the best non musical improv in town. I stand by that. Casey has the greatest improvisers play with him. A delight.

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