Tag Archives: EdFringe

EdFringe Talk: No Hard Felix

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“I’m excited to get swallowed up whole by the festival. I hope her teeth aren’t sharp and she spits me out in one piece.”

WHO: Mark Ryder

WHAT: “Toxic masculinity finally meets his match: erectile dysfunction. Felix is a finance bro with a big watch, a big ego and a little problem downstairs. His chaotic quest to “fix” himself spirals into an accidental journey into vulnerability and the scared parts of himself he’s spent a lifetime avoiding. Felix needs to heal(ix). ‘A great night out – witty, fast-paced and absurdly funny’ **** (TheSpyInTheStalls.com). ‘Not just gags and giggles… moments that drew gasps’ **** (LondonTheatre1.com).”

WHERE: Just Out Of The Box at Just The Tonic at The Caves (Venue 88) 

WHEN: 13:20 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I’ve experienced a few chilly Hogmanays in Edinburgh but this is my first time performing. And first time performing at any fringe theatre festival so I am a giant newbie. I’m excited to get swallowed up whole by the festival. I hope her teeth aren’t sharp and she spits me out in one piece.

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

The director, Rute Costa, told me that the show will develop and change. And I thought, ‘No chance, this is a masterpiece. ’Tis perfect and shall remain untouched.” And here we are with a show that has changed A LOT. When it is your words that you’ve written, you want to hold on so tightly to it. But now loosening that grip has led to all the fun. The show is never fully finished. There’s always little things to experiment with and discover night to night.

Little bonus life lesson! Is try to see the stars as much as possible (not Hollywood stars, actual star stars). When you live in cities with all the pollution you forget them. And it does something to you to look up at the universe.

Tell us about your show.

It’s a one-man show about toxic masculinity. About a ridiculous finance bro who can’t get it up. It’s big, playful, silly and heartfelt. I wrote it and am performing, but this is a piece dealing with straight white men in the world, and as one of those myself, the show needed a completely different eye. And so, the wonderful Rute Costa has come in to direct and has completely elevated it.

We did a few shows last year in London to see how the show was landing. The reviews were good so now we are taking the next step with the Fringe! The instagram page from the point of view of this character @nohardfelix EXPLODED earlier this year, so it feels like people are responding to this character. The topic of toxic men has been looked at from a serious angle from Adolescene and Louis Theroux’s manosphere documentary, but there’s definitely room to come at it from the comedy side too.

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

Go see Keeley Hazell: Everyone’s Seen My Tits, Bunker Two at Pleasance Courtyard 5-29 August. It’s based off her book which was mega. She was an ex-page 3 model and such a staple of early 00’s lad culture. Goes hand in hand with the No Hard Felix content but going to be amazing to hear it from her perspective.

My other recc is The Pitch, Baby Grand at Pleasance Courtyard 5-31 August. It’s about Gaelic football in Northern Ireland. This one is just gonna hit all the right notes. Laugh and cry.

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!

EdFringe Talk: Always, Sometimes, Maybe

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“Last year was my first and I’m hooked.”

WHO: Michele Stine

WHAT: “‘…class act in mime and clowning’ ***** (BingeFringe.com). ‘…you feel a collective goosebumps’ ***** (Fringesider.com). ‘Exceptionally entertaining clowning’ **** (BroadwayBaby.com). Always, Sometimes, Maybe is a solo clown show about a janitor so lonely she makes her friends out of trash. Using physical comedy and puppetry, this show is a funny and wild journey into what it means to be alone, and how we find our way back to each other. Lou unexpectedly finds herself with an audience; with nothing but her rubbish and lot of imagination, she tries to find connection.”

WHERE: Playground 3 at ZOO Playground (Venue 186) 

WHEN: 18:25 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This will be my second time coming to the Edinburgh Fringe.  Last year was my first and I’m hooked.  The first year was daunting and a little frightening because so much is unknown. And, honestly, I still feel those things but now there’s a level of excitement and joy that I’m feeling because I know what to expect. There’s this exhilarating experience of getting to perform your show everyday for a month, of getting to meet amazing artists from around the world, and seeing shows that you’d otherwise never get to witness.

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

Take things a day at a time. If you can do it now, do it. Be gentle with yourself.

Feels a bit like a self-help guide, but that doesn’t make any of it less true. I’ve been wading through the rip tides of grief, having lost loved ones over the last 12 months and trying to find joy or respite while also allowing for the space to fall apart have all been critical for me. Am I able to do those things, always? Absolutely not. Will I look back on this past year and think it bananas to be taking this show, this year, to the fringe? Possibly.

Tell us about your show.

Always, Sometimes, Maybe is a solo puppet-clown show about a janitor so lonely she’s made her friends out of trash. Lou unexpectedly finds herself with an audience; with nothing but her rubbish and a lot of imagination, she tries to find connection. Using physical comedy and puppetry, this show is a funny and wild journey into what it means to be alone, and how we find our way back to each other. It’s written by myself, Michele Stine, and directed by Raquel Torre with puppets designed and built by me, as well.

My show is returning to the fringe after a critically acclaimed run at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe, however it has undergone some major developments and changes. Previously it was a show for all ages; it was a hopeful, sweet show with a wide-eyed character looking to belong. Now, it’s a more honest, dark, and ridiculous show about the lengths one goes to to feel less alone in the world.

After this year’s run at Fringe, the show will have a six week run in Chicago (details to come soon).

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

After seeing Always, Sometimes, Maybe folks should immediately purchase a ticket to see The Pieces by Aloft. 6 acrobats and 8 ladders that move, collide, connect, and build into unbelievable structures, cranes, and bridges. “What keeps us standing in an unsteady world? In a divided time, it is a celebration of falling, coming together and choosing to rise as one.”

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!

EdFringe Talk: The Mothman Cometh

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“Mothman is a big vocal show for me, and last year I learned about things I need to avoid eating in order to sustain vocal health: no ice cream, cheese, coffee within 4 hours of the show… it was difficult”

WHO: Richie Schiraldi

WHAT: “Darkness.. It’s where demons and monsters hide. We’re told to fear it. Mothman says otherwise. Come. Join Mothman. Dance. Sing. Play. Scream into the void. Sink into the Abyss. Embrace the darkness together. This show is performed mostly in the dark, lit by Mothman’s glowing red eyes. ‘One of the finest, oddest experiences… Seek out the Mothman.’ ***** (StarburstMagazine.com). Best Comedy: Edinburgh Spookies. Audience Choice: Green Bay Fringe”

WHERE: Just The Fancy Room at Just The Tonic at The Caves (Venue 88) 

WHEN: 22:10 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This will be my 4th time, my 3rd year in a row, and my 2nd year self-producing while performing my original work! It’s such a magical beast of a festival, and I can’t think of a better place to get your reps in, test your material, and grow as an artist.

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

Pacing yourself and making sure you’re taking care of your body and voice during the festival; this is a marathon, not a sprint, and at the end of the day, you need to make sure you can show up and do your show tomorrow.

Warm-up. Warm-up beyond what the show asks that way the show is easy, and doesn’t take a compounding toll on your body.

Mothman is a big vocal show for me, and last year I learned about things I need to avoid eating in order to sustain vocal health: no ice cream, cheese, coffee within 4 hours of the show… it was difficult, especially avoiding gelato, but it was necessary – it made for a good binge day on my day off!

Tell us about your show.

The Mothman Cometh is about an endearing yet powerful cryptic creature who is recruiting minions of darkness. Mothman guides the audience through a variety of games, rituals, and happenings while trying to navigate the void to build community and embrace the darkness together.

I am a one-man operation for the show – i am the writer, producer, designer, and performer!

Mothman premiered in Chicago, and is in its second year of touring. Last year it made stops at the Green Bay, Philly and Edinburgh Fringes, had a special performance in Berlin, and had shows in the spring and fall in Chicago. This year, Mothman has already been to the Asheville, Prague, and Green Bay fringes, and will be making his way to Edinburgh and Rochester, with hopes of stopping in the Hudson Valley area for a few hometown shows.

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

Definitely go see Well-Balanced Dads for some Dad antics and summer-camp fun

Arachne/Athena for some beautiful solo Greek Myth storytelling

Broken Planet Show for an absurdly silly time!

Lt. Love Dr’s Boot Camp for Lonely People Like You for some IRL flirting drills to save us from a lonely, digital future!

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!

EdFringe Talk: Time Travel Postman

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“Last year at the festival we got a little over ambitious and expected to have a smooth, polished run, but it was anything but that. We got our egos in check, and figured out what really mattered with the show — having fun.”

WHO: Sevrin Willinder

WHAT: “A clown (Sevrin Willinder) needs the audience’s help to deliver letters across time and space. Through joyful participation, you are invited to embrace the unexpected, explore the beauty of human connection, and make sure the postman completes his galaxy-spanning paper route. A new show from Devon Loves ME! Productions (Melissa Ingle and Sevrin Willinder).”

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

WHEN: 20:40 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is our 3rd time at the Festival! My collaborator Melissa and I both love the festival a lot. It’s a place we have started to love to go every year to share our work with a wild, wider audience, and to get inspired by work from all around the world and of all sorts of different genres. We love making new friends at the festival, and are incredibly excited to see some returning ones that we have deeply missed having directly in our lives these last 12 months!!

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

Over the last 12 months we have really been focusing on having fun. Last year at the festival we got a little over ambitious and expected to have a smooth, polished run, but it was anything but that. We got our egos in check, and figured out what really mattered with the show — having fun. Since then, we have fully polished the show out of WIP form, and really made an effort to enjoy every moment of the work. Our runs in NYC since then have been the most fun we’ve ever had with the show. I think we’ve thoroughly absorbed that sense of fun, and I hope that we maintain it!

Tell us about your show.

Our show is Time Travel Postman, it’s about a time traveling postman who needs the audience’s help to deliver all the mail on his route. It’s a silly time, and full of fun games with the audience. We focus on enjoying the moment with the people around us. Melissa and I co-devised it, and then performed it 30+ times in WIP form until we now have a fully realized polished final product. We met originally back in 2019 doing political radio plays in the East Village of NYC, and have been best friends ever since. Eventually I approached Melissa with the desire to make a solo show inspired by the friends I made while living and traveling abroad, and it became Time Travel Postman. We have done several runs of the show in New York City (where we are based), a WIP run at the fringe last year (under the working title “It Was Really Good to Know You”), and another couple runs in NYC after that. We are in talks with taking it to Dublin post-fringe, and our dream is to bring it to a country that doesn’t speak English (we made the show non-verbal in order to reach as many people as possible).

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

The Passion of Mr. Cardboard — Miles is amazing, and a true genius of clowning.

Channel — it’s a great, chill sound bath experience, and very needed with all the hecticness of fringe.

Blizzard — Piotr inspired me to make a non-verbal show with his last one. He might be the sweetest, most sensitive clown of all time.

Peregrinations — I’ve never seen such creativity in a show! Also, never have I seen a show done entirely with larval masks!

Dog Funeral — Zoe truly does put the “fun” in “funeral.”

Double Take — this is classic miming at its finest and most poignant.

The Movement — Ethan & Gigi are such a joy at all times. I’m a real sucker for best friends making shows together.

Noted — it’s like watching a cartoon in real life!

Danger Plan! — I can’t say enough good things about Sophia as a storyteller or a singer.

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!

EdFringe Talk: Andy Macleod’s Soho Days and Camden Nights

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“It’s like being back at university meets Glastonbury in the most beautiful city in the world.”

WHO: Andy Macleod

WHAT: “A failed rockstar stumbles into band management to live the dream vicariously. From 90s London to the present day, through changing music scenes and a new digital landscape, this funny, bittersweet tale explores ambition, identity and knowing when to stop… or not. Adapted from his new book Soho Days, Camden Nights, Andy Macleod returns to the Fringe with this one-man show – a follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2022 show Anoint My Head, described by The Scotsman as ‘charmingly ramshackle catnip.'”

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

WHEN: 14:25 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

It is my second time as a performer. This year with a one man show adaptation of my new book Soho Days Camden NIghts. My debut run was in 2022 with a one man show adapted from my first book Anoint My Head.  I’m a Londoner of Scottish parents who grew up in Edinburgh so our summer holidays every year were spent at The Fringe so I have been a punter since childhood in the seventies and eighties and watched it grow.  I love everything about fringe, the shows, the surroundings, the endeavour of it all.  I always wanted to perform so it was a thrill to make it happen in my fifties and feel young again. It’s like being back at university meets Glastonbury in the most beautiful city in the world.

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

It’s a huge learning curve. You improve with every show you do, whether it goes well or not. And every show is different and unique to that performance and interaction with the audience, which itself is different each time. Whatever you think the show is, until you perform it you don’t really know but eventually the show will reveal itself via different audiences over successive nights. It’s not easy and a bit like trying to staple jelly but when it clicks it’s a truly wonderful feeling and dangerously addictive.

Tell us about your show.

It is a one man show adapted from my new book Soho Days Camden Nights which is published this summer. The show has been written and performed by me and directed by BAFTA award winning actor Jason Watkins and is being premiered at Edinburgh. It is primarily about chasing your dream and what happens when reality gets in the way. First as a rockstar and then as band manager and third as something else but I won’t tell you what that is otherwise a spolier.

It’s also a trip back to the 90s and an ode to the heyday of Camden music scene where I try to make it by night while working various day jobs in Soho.

And it might deal with lofty ideas about identity and ambition and if I am really clever I might even reveal the secret to success.

But underneath all of that its about giving yourself permission to follow your passion.

After Edinburgh I will be performing in London and then hopefully touring it.

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

If Natalie Palamides is playing she will be top of my list after being blown away by Weer.  Also Police Cops, David O Docherty, Ahir Shah, Ray O Leary…and The InCureables – a tribute to The Cure!

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!

EdFringe Talk: Guy Branum: Be Fruitful

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“I’m still trying to get the American TV industry I love back on its feet.”

WHO: Guy Branum

WHAT: “Emmy and Golden-Globe winning comedian Guy Branum goes on a joke-dense slide show journey through religion and science arguing that he, as a clinically obese gay man, does not serve any practical purpose. Guy recruits his audience to look at the origins of homophobia and anti-fat bias and asks how correct they might be. He uses this journey to explore how we tell stories about people traditionally ignored, why he’s bad at telling stories, the 1984 Tony Awards, the first and only time he’s been in love, and, of course, the biology and evolution of fruit.”

WHERE: Billiard Room at Gilded Balloon Teviot (Venue 14) 

WHEN: 20:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I’ve never been to the Edinburgh Fringe, but I’ve watched as my friends took smart, well-crafted shows to the Fringe, it found an audience, and the shows turned into HBO and Netflix specials. I’ve also seen the way people who’ve gone as performers and audience speak with rapturous intoxication about the feeling of being surrounded by that much art and energy. I want a hit of whatever is intoxicating them.

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

In Los Angeles there can be a very limited idea of what success looks like in entertainment, but as the industry is changing, that success is getting rarer. The last year has been about the industry making clear that it’s ready to fall apart, and me trying to get up the gumption to throw myself out of the collapsing building to create work I like. I haven’t fully picked up the message, I’m still trying to get the American TV industry I love back on its feet, but for now, finding satisfaction through live performance and Instagram videos has to be the fuel that keeps me going.

Tell us about your show.

I wrote my show, and I’m my company, so the company came together when my parents decided to have sex many decades ago. My show is about the limited, heteronormative idea of value and purpose we have as a society, and what it means to be a very fat gay man in a world that doesn’t see a lot of value or use in someone like me. It is also about fruit. I’ve worked the show out in Los Angeles for a while, and taken it on the road a bit, but Edinburgh is really its coming out party. The show has evolved a great deal over a year, and now I believe it’s reached its final, Charizard form. After the run in Edinburgh I will be setting the show and myself on fire to accept that no future version could ever be as perfect.

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

I REALLY love the LA-based Heated Rivalry Parody musical at the Gilded Balloon (I believe there are roughly 70 Heated Rivalry Parody Musicals coming to the fest, I plan to have sex with all of the Ilyas and most of the Shanes). And I’m mostly excited to see a bunch of comedians from the UK I love, Rose Matafeo, Nish Kumar, Connor Burns, and my friend Sophie Hagen. And then there are a bunch of my friends from America who are coming: Sam Morrison, Brendan Scannell, Ify Nwadiwe, Shane Torres, and everyone involved in Stamptown. And people should get their Stamptown tickets soon, because over the course of the run, most of the good cast members will probably be mangled in some sort of t-shirt cannon to the groin incident. Zach Zucker is a public menace and must be stopped.

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!

EdFringe Talk: Best. Dad. NEVER.

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“So embarrassing that one of my first impressions of EdFringe was watching The Simpsons cartoon where Lisa buys a ticket to ‘Musical: The Play.'”

WHO: Hike Chahinian

WHAT: “A gay Armenian-American Girl Dad, setting out to be the perfect Black Girl Magic-celebrating papa, stumbles through the hilarious and humbling fumbles of first-time fatherhood: from shopping for girls’ swimsuits to catching his own bigotry. Haig “Hike” Chahinian, grandson of Armenian Genocide survivors, was expected to marry a woman from his tribe. Instead, he met his dream man and adopted a bouncing biracial baby. Inspired by his viral essays in The New York Times, this intimate, messy, richly relatable story unpacks what we inherit, what we pass down, and the inherent conflict in striving to be good.”

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

WHEN: 13:05 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Is it ever, I’ve never even been to Scotland before. So embarrassing that one of my first impressions of EdFringe was watching The Simpsons cartoon where Lisa buys a ticket to “Musical: The Play.” Now I’m feeling the pull to produce my own show there. I’m excited to work among thousands of artists, and even more—millions?—of theatregoers. It’s possible I’m going to feel like a child on the first day of school where the classroom is a toy store. I’m going to be playing with so much, and so many! I hope I don’t break anything. Except maybe ticket sales records?

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

That audiences find fumbling through fatherhood to be funny. Good thing, as that’s the essence of my piece.

Also, I used to think that grounded, compelling performances like Hannah Gadsby’s and Wanda Syke’s specials must have come naturally. I love their sardonic humor, and the way they talk to the audience like friends. But my wonderful director Sandi McCree tells me words have to be supported by movement—in voice, face, and body. She said the audience experiences freedom when the performer has put in the work. I didn’t know what that meant, until I got on stage.

After recent rehearsals I’ve been feeling spent, ready for a nap. So I think I’m absorbing the lesson?

Tell us about your show.

My show Best. Dad. NEVER. reveals all the secrets about being a queer parent in an interracial family. Trying to buy a girl’s bathing suit, getting bullied by toddlers, catching my own bigotry, it’s all in the script I wrote, inspired by essays I’d published in the New York Times, and O The Oprah Magazine. Along with the amazing team at Suzanna Rosenthal Productions, my husband and I are producing this run. I premiered the show at Solofest 2025 in Los Angeles, then mounted a 5-night run at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. If I had a crystal ball I’d love to tell you where the show’s headed after EdFringe. Do you have one so you could tell me?

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

Definitely ‘Notes from a Narcissistic Negro and Other N Words’ written and performed by tour de force Elizabeth June. I couldn’t see its Los Angeles run, and I’m beyond excited to travel 5,000 miles to see it in person at last. 16:45 at the Annexe at Paradise in the Vault.

Also, ‘Roomies’, written and performed by fellow Los Angeleno Julia Stephens. I attended an awesome early reading and I’m eager to see how the technical aspects come to life. I understand it’s going to be a real treat.

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!

EdFringe Talk: Aidan Greene: Stuttermilk Pancakes

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“I’ve never actually experienced the Fringe as a punter. I only know it as a desperate, sleep-deprived performer standing on the Royal Mile in the rain, desperately trying to hand wet pictures of myself to tourists while trying to look like I’m not dying inside.”

WHO: Aidan Greene

WHAT: “Award-winning comedian Aidan Greene is Ireland’s foremost stammering comedian (he’s also the only one). For years he’s been told not to let his stutter define him. Well… too late. Join the bad boy of stammering for a razor-sharp, big-hearted show about embracing what makes you different and having serious craic along the way. ‘Destined for stardom’ (RTE). ‘A joy to behold’ (PasteMagazine.com). ‘A show which is as heartfelt as hilarious’ **** (TheWeeReview.com).”

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

WHEN: 17:45 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my eight Edinburgh Fringe and my tenth solo show. I took a break last year to make a short film and pent last summer living vicariously through all of my friends Instagram stories. There’s truly nothing like the Fringe. The sheer volume and quality of shows can be deeply overwhelming, but my absolute favourite thing is to grab a random flyer from a stranger and take a punt on a show I’ve never heard of. That’s how I’ve found some of my favourite performers.

I’ve never actually experienced the Fringe as a punter. I only know it as a desperate, sleep-deprived performer standing on the Royal Mile in the rain, desperately trying to hand wet pictures of myself to tourists while trying to look like I’m not dying inside. So if you see me, please take a flyer. My self-esteem depends on it.

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

I wrote and starred in a short film called “Stutterbug” last year and I learned that I am incredibly impatient. I love the immediate gratification that stand-up provides. With stand-up, if a joke bombs, you know within three seconds and you can fix it. When you put a joke in a film, you have to wait at least a year for the edit, the colour grade and the festival run to find out if anyone actually laughs at it. It’s agonising.

That said, acting in the film definitely forced me to grow as a performer. It’s been a very long time since I’ve done proper acting (I’d tell you why, but that is literally a massive plot point in Stuttermilk Pancakes) so Stutterbug taught me a lot about stage presence and physicality. Also, since I use a lot of multimedia in my stand-up, I robbed a few filmmaking tricks and dropped them straight into this show. Hopefully nobody from the film notices.

Tell us about your show.

My show is called Stuttermilk Pancakes. It’s a stand-up show about growing up with a stutter and how society’s weird perceptions of stuttering shaped my perception of myself. If that sounds serious don’t worry. It’s not like a therapy session. It’s very funny. So actually, it might be like a really bad therapy session.

It’s a fast-paced mixture of stand-up and multimedia where I take on Joe Biden, Harry Potter, and one incredibly unfortunate school production of Cinderella that went so off the rails it left a room full of children wondering if the ball would ever actually end.

This show is for anyone who’s been told to hide what makes them different. Basically, it’s like The King’s Speech but a lot more craic.

I do everything myself in the show. I’m a real control freak. I write the show, edit the videos, photoshop the images and do all my own stuttering.

The show is debuting at the Edinburgh Fringe and will hopefully tour around afterwards. But for now, I’m focused on surviving Edinburgh!

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

John Spillane is a quintessential fringe experience. The man performs a brand up show every single day based on whatever his wild little brain comes up with. It’s one of the wildest rides at the Fringe.

Roger O’Sullivan’s debut last year was so good I’m still mad about it. Everyone should go and see him before he gets too famous.

Two comedy theatre pieces I couldn’t recommend higher are “Secrets Secrets Shhh!” and “Nothing Personal”. Both are hilarious but also unhinged.

And then I love Scottish acts so can’t recommend Marjolein Robertson and Rosco McClelland enough!

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!

EdFringe Talk: Phil Nichol: Aren’t We Lucky

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“The past 12 months have felt like a complete clean-slate, new-chapter kind of year.”

WHO: Phil Nichol

WHAT: “Lou Reed. The lottery. Ecstasy. Prince Andrew. Punk. Barenaked Ladies. Crisps. Terry Jones. Leukaemia. Butterflies. Dizzy Gillespie’s cheeks. Chance. Scat. Sunshine on Leith. Boo-bee-dee-do. Wasps. Double helix. Comedy. Dennis Hopper. Scrotums. Life. Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner, Phil Nichol is back with a brand-new show. An acclaimed actor, award-winning comedian, producer, presenter, writer and musician, there is no end to his talent. As seen on The Graham Norton Show (BBC One) and Never Mind the Buzzcocks (BBC Two). ***** (Scotsman). ***** (List).”

WHERE: Lounge at Gilded Balloon Teviot (Venue 14) 

WHEN: 17:20 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

I’ve been coming to the Fringe since 1990. This year marks my 28th Fringe, where I’ll be presenting my 25th solo hour-long show. Before that, I performed six hour-long shows with Corky and The Juice Pigs, bringing the total to 31 full-length Fringe shows, not counting the countless gala appearances, mixed bills and guest spots.

Alongside stand-up, I’ve produced 21 theatre productions with Comedians’ Theatre Company and performed in 17 stage productions. I’ve also played with numerous bands over the years, including Bill Bailey’s Beergut 100.

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

Creating ‘Aren’t We Lucky’ has genuinely made me a more positive and hopeful person. It’s been surprising how the show’s message of positive reaffirmation has shifted my perspective.

I turned 60 last year, moved in with my partner, became a stepdad to her two young boys, and recently got engaged. The past 12 months have felt like a complete clean-slate, new-chapter kind of year.

It’s also been a time of real reflection. If you want to hear more about that journey and where it’s led me, you’ll have to come and see ‘Aren’t We Lucky’.

Tell us about your show.

‘Aren’t We Lucky ’is a heart-warming show exploring chance, love, magic, and loss. Through the deeply personal yet funny story of my friend Kevin Hearn’s battle with leukemia, and the extraordinary chain of events that followed, I’ll be reflecting on regret, good fortune, and the simple, visceral act of appreciating what we have right here, right now.

The ever-present magic of reality fuels this show, I’ll share high-octane, hilarious and unforgettable stories: growing up in the Brethren Assembly, moving from Glasgow to Toronto, becoming a world-renowned comedian, and witnessing his parents fall in love again in their nineties. From conspiracy theories to Lou Reed, from World War II to old-age pensioners, and even the now-banned Swedish word “ogooglebar,” no subject is off-limits. These rib-tickling threads collide with bigger questions about why we’re here—and how to make the most of it.

The show was written by me with a little help from the inimitable Carey Marx and directed by John Gordillo. It is self produced in association with Lee Martin at Gag Reflex. This is a World Premiere.

We are all hoping for an international tour in 2027. My last show ‘Your Wrong’ toured for 150+ dates in 13 countries ending with a 10 day sold out run at the Soho Theatre London.

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

Sarah-Louise Young: The Bob Ross Effect! Sarah-Louise Young is an cabaret performer and the creator and star of the internationally celebrated tribute show An Evening Without Kate Bush. The Bob Ross Effect is her new show for Edinburgh 2026. It explores grief, mental health, and creativity through live painting, storytelling, and original songs, celebrating the enduring legacy of the beloved Joy of Painting host, Bob Ross.

Also, see my other show, ‘The Naked Racist’. It’s the 20th anniversary of my 2006 Edinburgh Comedy Award winning show. The show is an unhinged re-telling of an Amsterdam trip gone wrong ending with an epiphany of epic proportions. Guaranteed laughs.

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!

EdFringe Talk: Gareth Mutch Means Well

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“I’ve also met some of my comedy heroes at the Edinburgh Festival. It’s kind of just… a comedian’s Christmas. It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”

WHO: Gareth Mutch

WHAT: “Best Show nominee 2024/25 (Edinburgh ISH Awards). The Scottish hotshot returns with a show about good intentions, bad timing and constantly putting his foot in it. An engaging and gifted storyteller, expect class clashes, romantic disasters and the familiar feeling of trying to do the right thing, and rarely succeeding. Hilarious and painfully relatable; join this hotly tipped master of stand-up as he unashamedly revels in saying exactly the wrong thing at precisely the wrong moment. ‘Naturally adept; gales of laughter… bulldozering skill’ (Comedy.co.uk). ‘As good as any… innate storytelling skill, naturally funny’ (Chortle.co.uk).”

WHERE: Stand 1 at The Stand Comedy Club (Venue 5) 

WHEN: 16:20 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

It isn’t. I’m a local boy. I grew up in Livingston, West Lothian, just outside Edinburgh, so I know and love the city, not only during the Festival but all year round. That said, I do think Edinburgh is at its best during the Festival. I love the buzz and excitement it brings.

I’ve done the Fringe in some capacity every year since 2012 (apart from during Covid). The Edinburgh Fringe can be genuinely life changing, people have built entire careers from a successful run. I have so many amazing memories of the Fringe, like when I lived with fellow comedians Robin Grainger, Rosco McClelland and Christopher Macarthur-Boyd. I’ve also met some of my comedy heroes at the Edinburgh Festival. It’s kind of just… a comedian’s Christmas. It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

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 not to let things outside your control get you down. Focus on what is within your control. I love that as advice. Am I the best at putting it into practice? Not always. But, Lord knows, I’m trying.

Tell us about your show.

I wrote the show myself and I’ll be performing it throughout the Edinburgh Fringe.

The show is produced independently, with huge support from Blue Jeans Management and my brilliant agent, Charlotte Smith, who does all the hard work behind the scenes so I can focus on writing and getting ready for the Fringe.

After the Fringe, I’m hoping to take it on the road, performing at comedy clubs and as many Fringe festivals around the UK as possible.

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

I could be here all day selecting names, as there are so many amazing comedians at the Fringe this year. I’ll keep it short and sweet with my top three.

1. Bruce Devlin – He’s been one of my favourite acts on the circuit since I started, and I honestly can’t wait to see his full show this year. He makes me howl with laughter every time.

2. Gareth Waugh – My good buddy Gareth is a brilliant stand-up. This year he’s doing a true crime meets stand-up show. I’ve seen a preview and loved it, so I know the finished version will be a must-see.

3. Jojo Sutherland – I married her daughter, so she’d kill me if I didn’t mention her. Thankfully, she’s also one of the best comedians in the country. Her reputation within British comedy is second to none because she’s been consistently brilliant for years. Her shows usually pack a bit more of an emotional punch, so be ready to laugh, but also to come out feeling ready to take on the world.

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!