Tag Archives: EdFringe

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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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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EdFringe Talk: Tell Me

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“Vulnerability is contagious.”

WHO: Sadiq Ali

WHAT: “Two timelines collide in this bold fusion of dance and circus, offering a fresh perspective on HIV. When Grace receives a diagnosis, she is transported back to the 80s alongside Michael, a gay man navigating a very different reality. Their journeys unfold through striking choreography, Chinese pole and aerial artistry. Sadiq Ali Company, makers of five-star, award-winning The Chosen Haram, return to the Fringe with their new show Tell Me, part of the Made in Scotland showcase. ‘Stunning, soulful, a total triumph’ ***** (PinkPrinceTheatre.com). ‘Poignant tale of sex, revelry and glistening abs’ **** (Guardian). MadeInScotlandShowcase.com”

WHERE: Dissection Room at Summerhall (Venue 26) 

WHEN: 19:00 (65 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Not at all. Edinburgh has been a huge part of my journey as an artist. I’ve performed here with previous work, premiered projects here, and this is actually my third time being part of the Made in Scotland programme, which still feels surreal.

What makes Edinburgh special is that nowhere else in the world gathers so many artists, audiences and industry professionals in one place. You can see work that completely changes the way you think, stumble across something extraordinary by accident, and have conversations in queues that lead to your next collaboration.

As an artist, it’s exhilarating and exhausting in equal measure. As an audience member, it’s one of the only places where you can watch circus, theatre, dance, comedy and cabaret all in the same day. I think the best festivals create curiosity. They encourage people to take risks on work they might never normally book, and that’s where the magic happens.

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

This year has taught me that making ambitious work is about letting go of perfection. Tell Me has had an outdoor life, an indoor premiere, touring performances and now another major redevelopment before Edinburgh. Every time we’ve shared it with audiences, it’s told us something new.

I’ve also realised that vulnerability is contagious. The more honest we’ve been throughout the process, the more generous audiences have been in return. That’s reinforced something I’ve believed for a long time: theatre doesn’t need to provide answers, it just needs to create the conditions for meaningful conversations.

Have I absorbed those lessons? I’m trying. Like most artists, I still want everything to be perfect before anyone sees it. Edinburgh is a good reminder that sometimes a show only becomes what it’s meant to be because audiences are invited into that journey.

Tell us about your show.

Tell Me is written and directed by me, Sadiq Ali, and produced by Turtle Key Arts.

The company has grown organically over the years. I work with collaborators I trust deeply, bringing together performers, designers and creatives who are interested in using circus as a storytelling tool rather than simply spectacle. We build work through devising, so everyone in the room contributes creatively to the final production.

Tell Me had its first life as a large scale outdoor production, premiering at the Norfolk & Norwich Festival before touring with Without Walls and partners around the UK. The indoor version then premiered earlier this year at The Lowry before touring to MimeLondon at The Place, Worthing, and Manipulate Festival in Edinburgh. Those performances became a laboratory for the version audiences are now seeing at Edinburgh Fringe, which has been substantially reworked and expanded since then.

We’re hoping this is only the beginning. The ambition is for Tell Me to continue touring nationally and internationally, reaching audiences who may never expect to encounter a story about HIV through contemporary circus.

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

Firstly, I’d say seek out as much contemporary circus as you can. It feels like an unusually strong year for pole, which makes me incredibly happy. I’m especially excited to catch work by Yvonne Smink and Dusk, Night, Dawn, because it’s rare to see so much of the discipline represented in one Fringe.

I’d also encourage people to take a gamble every day. Pick one show you’ve never heard of. Read one sentence of the blurb, buy a ticket and trust the festival. Some of the most influential performances I’ve ever seen have been complete accidents.

Finally, support work that’s trying to say something. Whether it’s circus, dance, theatre or cabaret, festivals survive because audiences choose curiosity over familiarity. That’s where you’ll find the pieces that stay with you long after August ends.

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EdFringe Talk: Guy Masterson talks EdFringe26

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“I’ve directed 4 of them. I’ve dramaturged 1 of them. I’m presenting ALL of them.”

WHO: Guy Masterson, the acclaimed actor-manager, sits down to talk EdFringe26.

The Tao of Lloyd:
Drawing Room at Assembly Rooms (12:25) (Venue 20) (60 min)

Ludwig: Unfinished Business:
Front Room at Assembly Rooms (12:35) (Venue 20) (60 min)

11½ Angry Men:
Pentland Theatre at Pleasance at EICC (14:30) (Venue 150b) (80 min)

Call Me Elizabeth: from Lassie to Cleopatra:
Studio Two at Assembly George Square Studios (15:30) (Venue 17) (60 min)

Call Me Elizabeth part II: from Burton to Humanitarian:
Studio Two at Assembly George Square Studios (15:30) (Venue 17) (60 min)

Scaramouche Jones:
Bijou at Assembly Rooms (16:10) (Venue 20) (90 min)

MORE: Click Here!

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EdFringe Talk: Spooky Dookie: Cool New Planet!!

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“We just love festivals and Edinburgh Fringe isn’t just a festival, it’s THE festival.”

WHO: Maureen Monahan

WHAT: “When? The dawn of time. Who? Two upstart planet designers pitching their idea for a brand new planet called Earth. Weaving together sketches, songs and improv, this show provides the audience a sneak peek at the exciting features of their proposed planet: rocks, cracks, pain, religion, microplastics, brand momentum and more. As sketch duo Spooky Dookie, Claire McFadden and Maureen Monahan have written and performed sketch shows all over America. Their combined credits include SNL, Jackbox Games, The Second City Mainstage, JFL Shorts, the Onion, Showtime, Comedy Central, Dropout and Good Mythical Morning.”

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

WHEN: 19:40 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Claire has been to Edinburgh Fringe before for a short run of improv shows, but has never performed the entire month. I have never been to Fringe and this will also be my first time in Scotland! I am Maureen, by the way. We’re a duo and I’m doing the typing while Claire stands over my shoulder feeding me answers and nodding encouragingly. We’ve been a sketch duo since 2016, and in that time we’ve performed in our fair share of comedy festivals big and small around the U.S. in Boston, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Texas, but Edinburgh Fringe has always loomed large on our comedy bucket list. We love the festival lifestyle: seeing crazy, weird, unforgettable shows (cut to us having our minds blown by Natalie Palamides’s ‘Nate’ at SF SketchFest in 2019); meeting other performers; attempting to decipher an unfamiliar public transit system while lugging a bag of props. We just love festivals and Edinburgh Fringe isn’t just a festival, it’s THE festival. It has more of everything we love about festivals than any other festival. Plus, we both love looking at really old buildings, so Edinburgh is a dream.

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

Speaking for both of us (Claire nodding encouragingly), we have learned a lot about how to navigate a long-distance comedy partnership. In September 2025, we put up our first full version of our show at Upright Citizens Brigade Los Angeles. The very next day, Claire learned she’d been hired to write for SNL and had to move to New York in less than a week! So after we were done celebrating and saying “Oh my god” to each other, we started to figure out how to embark on Edinburgh Fringe while remaining a “long distance” duo with a three hour time difference. We did a lot of FaceTime meetings to fine-tune the show and stretched our schedules so that we could fly back and forth to each other to perform it in New York and Los Angeles. The lesson? We are unstoppable. Resistance is futile. But also, It required a lot of patience and flexibility and in the process, we’ve built a show that we have so much fun doing, which is a big win for us, because we love fun.

Speaking for myself, (Maureen), I learned to play the ukulele. It’s not really a “big thing” as it’s a famously simple instrument and, if anything, more of a small guitar–but I did learn it. In our show we have a song that was once played on piano, but ukuleles are a lot easier to take to another country. So, I learned the song on ukulele and now I have calluses on the tips of my fingers, but my luggage will be a lot lighter.

Tell us about your show.

Like I mentioned, Claire and I have been writing and performing together as a sketch duo since 2016. We met in Chicago in the cast of a different, doomed ensemble sketch show and clung to each other in the wreckage. When we made our debut as a duo at a variety show at The Annoyance in Chicago, the host asked us what our name was and we answered “Spooky Dookie” in a panic. The name stuck because it’s kind of fun to have a stupid name. It’s a nice reminder that comedy is not serious.

Since then, we’ve written and performed six hour-long original sketch reviews, and Spooky Dookie: Cool New Planet!! is our seventh. We’ve also performed at many comedy festivals across the U.S., released an American History-themed comedy album we wrote during the pandemic (O, Petticoats! wherever you get music), and dressed up like drunk reindeer for a holiday concierge convention. All the while we cut our teeth in our separate paths in the comedy world, which would fling us into different cities for stretches of time. When we both were finally living in the same city (Los Angeles) again in 2025, we started writing the show that would become Cool New Planet!!. We concieved of the idea while out on a walk. We were making each other laugh with the way people talk when a friend is crashing out creatively and they’re trying to console them. Like your friend saying they accidentally created the concept of war and they feel horrible and having to tell them, “Oh my god, you’re catastrophizing. It’s so not a big deal.” We kept making each other laugh so much that a show grew out of it. We learned a lot of choreography on Claire’s back patio. We’ve put up the show at Upright Citizens’ Brigade and the Lyric Hyperion in Los Angeles, and at Union Hall in New York City, and we’re so excited to make our UK debut at Edinburgh Fringe.

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

We love our friends’ Drew Reilly and Ashley Leisten’s duo Megasquirt and are very excited to be astonished and disgusted by their show Megasquirt: Fully Loaded at Underbelly Cowgate. We are also very excited to see Alice Stanley’s play The Second Best School Shooting.

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EdFringe Talk: Well-Balanced Dads

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“An interactive script HAS to keep developing through performances, and we know our Edinburgh run will continue to shape it as we gain more and varied experiences.”

WHO: Richie Schiraldi and Britt Anderson

WHAT: “Grab your finger-guns, comb your ‘stache and brace yourselves for the Well-Balanced Dads! Dick and Dale are taking the audience on a camping trip full of dad jokes, dance moves, acrobatics, movie references and unthreatening audience participation. This hilarious duo balances levity with deeper themes like finding your inner child, hypermasculinity and navigating life after the kids have flown the nest. ‘6 stars from this dad, 5 from the rest of the family!’ (Good Dad). ‘My face hurt from smiling’ (Good Kid). A show for anyone who is a dad, has a dad or wants a dad.”

WHERE: Alba Theatre at Braw Venues @ Hill Street (Venue 41) 

WHEN: 16:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This will be our third Fringe in a row, fourth total. We love the magic of being in a city with thousands of other performing artists. All of our work relies on audience connection and play, and there is no other opportunity that offers such playful, eclectic audiences 23+ shows in a row! Due to travel and cost-efficiency, we often bring multiple shows each year — one that’s new, and at least one that’s a little more established. This year we’re bringing three: Well-Balanced Dads (new) and The Mothman Cometh and Arachne / Athena, both of which had great runs at Edinburgh and other fringe festivals last year.

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

As we’ve been developing the latest iteration of Well-Balanced Dads over the last year, we’ve learned how to set different audience members up for success during audience participation moments, from 4 year olds to 40 year olds. An interactive script HAS to keep developing through performances, and we know our Edinburgh run will continue to shape it as we gain more and varied experiences. Also, we’ve learned the show plays to a much wider age range than we initially anticipated. We have a multigenerational show to offer, which is very exciting.

On the admin side, we’ve learned a lot about managing our capacity and how valuable it is to bring on another team member for specific tasks. This year we hired Rosaline Hodgetts for Marketing and PR and it has been amazing. We’ve been able to focus more of our energy on the creative aspects of the show.

Tell us about your show.

Well-Balanced Dads is a high-energy, family-friendly physical comedy about Dick and Dale, two acrobatic dads and best friends, navigating life after the kids have left the nest. To cope with their newfound freedom, they take the audience on a camping trip full of dad jokes, dance moves, acrobatics, movie references and unthreatening audience participation. This hilarious duo balances levity with deeper themes like finding your inner child, hypermasculinity and navigating a changing parent/kid relationship. This show began as a 3-minute bit for Broken Planet Show in 2023 that was concocted at midnight the night before. The act grew into 10 minutes, then two acts, then an hourlong show through a residency at Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble and premiered at Made in Chicago at Chicago’s international Physical Theater Festival.

We are Whisper Theatre Collective, a Chicago-based group of artists that cultivates physical, experimental and original theatre that would otherwise be self-produced. We (Britt Anderson and Richie Schiraldi) are the co-Artistic Directors. We formed the company coming out of grad school with three other artists, and we made our first appearance at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe, where we produced two 30-minute works in a double billed slot. Since then, we’ve written 8 shows that have been performed in the US, UK, and Europe, and we currently have 3 active shows. For Well-Balanced Dads, the two of us are the writers, directors, designers, and performers. Edinburgh Fringe is the climactic midway point in our 2026 summer tour. We’ll be going to Cannonball Festival at Philly Fringe and Rochester Fringe this fall, and we’ve already had stops at Almanac’s Wild Horizons Festival, Green Bay Fringe, and Borderlight Fringe, where we won the Comedy Award!

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

Audiences should see Broken Planet Show, led by Callum Grant. It’s not only the original container for the Dads, but it’s a fun, wild, musical, interactive show in its own right.

Come see our other, darker adult-centric shows: Arachne / Athena and The Mothman Cometh!

For circus, go see The Pieces by Aloft Circus Arts!

For excellent clowning, go see Always, Sometimes Maybe by Michele Stine and The Letterman by Bryce Flint-Somerville!

For belly laughs and flirts, go see Lt Love Dr’s Boot Camp for Lonely People Like You by Chloe Matonis!

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EdFringe Talk: (No) Refunds

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“I always describe our first year at Edfringe as if we had made a goal to swim in the ocean without having ever seen an ocean before. WE DID IT. We swam in the ocean! We didn’t drown.”

WHO: Katy Murphy

WHAT: “(No) Refunds is an interactive game show play hosted by Tiffany Gold, an old-school American host and model presenter all-in-one who quite literally depends on your entertainment. One premium ticket holder, dubbed the Star Player for the evening, will compete in three games designed to amuse the audience and showcase their talents. Only those best-suited to handle the demands of stardom will walk away with a full refund. Do you have what it takes?”

WHERE: The Penny at Gilded Balloon Patter House (Venue 24) 

WHEN: 21:40 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is our SECOND time at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. That said, I can’t say I remember much of the first feverish 5-day run we had last year?

I always describe our first year at Edfringe as if we had made a goal to swim in the ocean without having ever seen an ocean before. WE DID IT. We swam in the ocean! We didn’t drown. However, we had NEVER SEEN an ocean before! We didn’t know how helpful a liferaft, water and food preserves, and sunscreen could be and we didn’t pack ‘em! We may not have drowned, but my goodness, we barely stayed afloat.

Why do I love Edfringe? Because the community surrounding it is there to hand you a life preserver when you’re drowning. The abundance of opportunity mindset is beautiful and healing. It is a cauldron that celebrates weird art, and even though it’s a GAUNTLET, it teaches you how capable you are. Making it through last year launched three successful runs back in NYC that have allowed us to sharpen this show up into the best it’s ever been.

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

How much money I could be charging for my artistic labor. I have not absorbed this lesson. I am still underpaid. Is it worth it though? That’s the question (No) Refunds asks every night.

Tell us about your show.

This show was first drafted as a remote experience during the pandemic as a manic response to losing three jobs in one day. It has since shapeshifted into the live gameshow that debuted at Edfringe with Just the Toni last year after NYC WIP presentations at Brooklyn Comedy Collective and Theaterlab. Most recently, we debuted three brand-new games at the Tank for their Edfringe NYC previews.

On the horizon, we’re on the lookout for domestic touring opportunities (especially in Chicago, our team is chock full of Northwestern Wildcats). We plan to run it wherever they’ll have us until the wheels come off.

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

Well, depending on what you like the most about (No) Refunds, here’s some recommendations:

If you like a clown character with a heart of gold: Lizzy Sunshine (also at Patter House!), I’ve seen Liz perform this show three times now (last year’s Fringe preview, at the Fringe, and this year at SoHo Playhouse in NYC), and she’s one of the best to do it. A must-see.

If you like a show that’s different every night: Mistakes Were Made: Shiver Me Timbers, an improvised show influenced by dice rolls featuring a local cast that sold out last year. This year the cast includes Lucette Panush, an ex-pat who I saw perform in the States before she moved to Edinburgh and she always delights.

If you like queer campy plays: 1518: The Dancing Plague, as a former accidental European History Minor (turns out if you take enough classes for fun they give you a certification???) This show touches on all my special interests. BASED ON ACTUAL HISTORY! Straight off of an LA run that looks like a blast.

If you like the dark side of typecasts: Hater, a play about obsession, their social media team has been KILLING IT (maybe foreshadowing some murderous vibes in the play itself?) and I’ve been stalking what they’re up to online.

If you like theatre from the NYC downtown scene: Like a Good Neighbor is a solo show that feels like a warm hug by Jake Alexander, who I had the pleasure of sharing a cohort with at Theaterlab earlier this year for their Meltingplot Festival. Irene Woo’s Golden Child just had a run at the Tank for Edinburgh Fringe Previews with us and chronicles her path from “successful Google Engineer” to (her words) “unemployed clown.” Finally, Noted, also going up at the Tank before Fringe hailed as a “live-action cartoon” seems like a whole lot of fun.

If you like shows everyone likes: Stamptown was the first Fringe show I saw in real life, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. A great tasting menu of all the Fringe has to offer.

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