Tag Archives: EdFringe

EdFringe Talk: Tom Stade Rules

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“All year round I’m touring entertaining audience all across the country and lone wolfing it in hotels in different towns and then August arrives and the party begins…”

WHO: Tom Stade

WHAT: “Canadian powerhouse Tom Stade takes aim at the absurdities of modern times with contagious charm and incisive, gloriously unfiltered wit. Join this free spirit as he grapples with rebellion, responsibility and the tension between the old and new. From unspoken social codes, cultural divides, identity and marriage, Tom dismantles all the rules – and redefines them his way. Rocking audiences for decades with his trademark swagger and masterful stage presence. Consistently magnificent, blisteringly funny – Tom Stade Rules! ‘Unmissable’ (Edinburgh Evening News). ‘Stand-up elite’ (Chortle.co.uk). ‘Debauched truth-teller’ (Guardian). ‘Gloriously funny’ (Scotsman). ‘Master of comedy’ (List).”

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

WHEN: 20:20 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This isn’t my first Edinburgh festival rodeo but I think on a very personal level the thing I love about this festival is definitely the camaraderie hands down…I look forward to it. All year round I’m touring entertaining audience all across the country and lone wolfing it in hotels in different towns and then August arrives and the party begins… Now you’re getting to be on the same shows as your mates at two in the morning, meeting new up and coming future superstars, sharing stories, closing down late night bars, and laughing your head off and realising that you aren’t the lone wolf you think you are but you are part of such a beautiful, talented, creative community. It really is a special feeling for me.

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

Well, I think the big thing that I’ve learned is that curse words will really screw up your algorithm on Instagram. Now have I absorbed that lesson? Probably not just because I’m still a bit of a rebel but I definitely know that’s a real F&@king thing.

Tell us about your show.

My show is seen through the eyes of a 55 year old (that would be yours truly) progressive liberal and finding that being progressive is a never-ending journey. In questioning what progressive means in 2026 through the eyes of my kids versus what it meant when I was my kids age. Times have changed, attitudes have changed, can I learn from the children of the algorithm gods or maybe they have something they could learn from this child of MTV and grunge. Of course it was written by Tom Stade and produced by Tom Stade and am I taking it beyond the Edinburgh festival…Well I guess you best be going to Tomstade.com and find out if I’m coming to a town near you – get those tickets.

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

Well, I think my number one suggestion is definitely the fabulous Gareth Mutch. He’s been my support act when I’ve been on tour throughout the years. Anyone who’s a fan of mine probably already knows and loves him. I love writing and performing with this gifted comic and I love he’s always keeping me on my toes. He’s got some absolutely fabulous routines, right now the one about Giffgaff makes me laugh my ass off (spoiler alert) but the dude knows how to riff and I have seen him really create some special moments for audiences. I’ve known him since he first started when he was a 20 year old kid (hell I even officiated his wedding) and i’ve had the honour of seeing him go from strength to strength and I can’t stress enough he’s just one of these people that as soon he gets on the industry radar I truly believe he’s one of these special talents that will blast off into the showbiz stratosphere.

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EdFringe Talk: The Only Man Who Won’t F*ck Me

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“I don’t think there’s anywhere else on earth where you can test-drive an hour of material for a month, surrounded by the best artists working right now, in front of New York, LA and London industry, and also cry in a shared shower.”

WHO: Catherine Taaffe

WHAT: “Kat has it all figured out: a rent-stabilized Brooklyn apartment, a clinically tight pussy and a business built on knowing what men want. She’s the witchy brunette you hooked up with in college and remember. The downtown art girl you pay to look you in the eye. Until she meets Logan. Masculine. Sexy. A boxer who understands women better than other men. The problem is Logan only wants to be friends. So Kat decides if she can’t have him, she’ll heal him. And what’s more romantic than refusing to take no for answer?”

WHERE: Playground 2 at ZOO Playground (Venue 186) 

WHEN: 21:50 (60 min)

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Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

First time ever. I don’t think there’s anywhere else on earth where you can test-drive an hour of material for a month, surrounded by the best artists working right now, in front of New York, LA and London industry, and also cry in a shared shower. Where else am I going to do that?

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

I learn everything the hard way, that’s the through-line of my whole life and arguably the show. The real lesson has been believing in myself to a genuinely unhinged degree. I sold this show to Fringe venues, marketing companies and publicists before I’d written a word of it. I made a rejection into a debut. I assumed the show would eventually catch up. Nobody’s going to be delusional on your behalf.

Tell us about your show.

I wrote it, I’m in it, and somehow convinced Suzanna Rosenthal Productions and director P Burton-Morgan to get on board a play about a man who wouldn’t sleep with me. Edinburgh is the debut because why do anything the sane way. The real endgame is a TV adaptation. Turns out queer romantic comedies can become psychological thrillers. Who knew?

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

I’ve had my head down in New York for nine months building this thing, so I don’t know nearly as many people as I should. But I will shamelessly send you to Cecilia Corrigan in The Gay Divorce. You will be pissing yourself laughing. Go.

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EdFringe Talk: Flamenc Oh!!

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“The challenge was never the comedy—it was finding the right balance between respecting the tradition and having the freedom to play with it.”

WHO: David Ottone

WHAT: “World-class flamenco with a wild twist, this brand-new dance comedy sees physical theatre collide with the passion and power of flamenco. A fiercely traditional patriarch finds his carefully-controlled world unravelling when his children challenge the old rules. Totally unique and utterly hilarious, with live music from traditional to rock, pop, hip-hop, and house. This is a show for everybody – from flamenco fans to those who don’t know their planta from their paseo. From Yllana, the team behind ***** (TheScottishSun.co.uk) hit A Comedy of Operas, comes flamenco like you’ve never experienced it before. Co-commissioned by Sadler’s Wells.”

WHERE: Music Hall at Assembly Rooms (Venue 20) 

WHEN: 14:15 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This will actually be our eighth time at the Fringe, so in many ways it feels like coming home.

We love Edinburgh because there’s nowhere else quite like it. It’s one of the few places in the world where you can perform your show to audiences from every corner of the globe, while at the same time meeting spectators, producers and festival programmers from everywhere. For a company like Yllana, whose work travels internationally, it’s the perfect place to launch a new production.

And as audience members, it’s simply one of the most exciting festivals there is. You can walk into a tiny venue knowing absolutely nothing about a show and come out having discovered your new favourite artist.

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

One of the biggest lessons has been how to create an international comedy show inspired by such a deeply rooted cultural art form as flamenco.

The challenge was never the comedy—it was finding the right balance between respecting the tradition and having the freedom to play with it. We learnt that if you approach an art form with love and curiosity, audiences understand that you’re laughing with it, not at it. That became the philosophy behind the whole show.

Tell us about your show.

FLAMENC OH!! is Yllana’s latest creation. We’ve been creating visual comedy and musical theatre for over 35 years, touring in almost 50 countries, and this time we wanted to explore the extraordinary world of flamenco.

The show was created and directed by Yllana in collaboration with a wonderful cast of flamenco artists, bringing together physical comedy, live music and dance.

The production premiered in Madrid, where it has been playing throughout the summer. After Edinburgh, it continues its international tour before arriving at the Peacock Theatre in London this October as a co-production with Sadler’s Wells.

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

One of the best things about the Fringe is discovering something you weren’t expecting.

I’d definitely recommend seeing international productions. Korean companies, in particular, always surprise me. Their visual storytelling, precision and creativity are incredible, and most of them are purely visual shows , you understand everything that’s happening on stage. That’s something we really admire at Yllana.

I look forward to seeing the shows ‘Showstopper! The Improvised Musical’ and ‘Dracula: Lucy’s Dream’.

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EdFringe Talk: Antigone 1989: A Town Hall Musical

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“Silence is not peace.”

WHO: Victoria Martinez

WHAT: “A bold retelling of Sophocles’s tragedy set in Thebes, California. The Oracle summons audience-citizens and invokes the ancient rites of drama and democracy to address a crisis. Two brothers, gay activist Nikolas and conservative cop Elias – are dead after a protest on the capitol steps. When the Governor proclaims one a hero and the other erased, defiant sister Tigg and best friend Henry risk everything for justice and love. The score delivers both burden and joy as it navigates human need, political greed, and grassroots resistance as survival. There is no sitting out.”

WHERE: Other Yin at Gilded Balloon Patter House (Venue 24) 

WHEN: 15:05 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Yes, this is my very first time in Edinburgh and my first time attending any theatre festival. I’ve only heard great things about the city and even better things about the Fringe! What makes it so special is its incredible diversity. It feels like Disneyland for theatre people because everywhere you look—left, right, up, and down—there are so many different stories being told, each with something meaningful to say.

The Fringe is a hub for advocacy and representation, making it the perfect environment to bring our activating show, Antigone 1989: A Town Hall Musical. The Fringe feels like its own world, and there is something especially remarkable about the UK, where theatre has been made so accessible to the public and has introduced communities to life-changing theatrical experiences from a very young age.

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

The biggest thing I have learned is something this show has taught me: silence is not peace. Before I was cast in this production, I was constantly seeing news about how my community back home, as well as communities across the world, were being affected by ICE raids. It sent me into a spiral because I felt helpless, overwhelmed, fearful, and confused. Those feelings caused me to become silent. Antigone has taught me to fight for the people you love and to stand up for justice. That means doing more than simply reposting something on social media.

It means donating, if you’re able, to families or organizations that support those affected, and taking meaningful action whenever possible. This show has held me accountable to resist silence and complacency. Another lesson I have learned is to trust the process. We have an incredible creative team bringing this show to life, and they are truly the backbone of the production. Throughout the rehearsal process, the company has consistently reflected, collaborated, and communicated about the best way to tell the story we want to share. That has been especially meaningful because it isn’t common for actors to have the opportunity to contribute their perspectives on the writing, music, or overall concept of a new work.

Tell us about your show.

Our show is a retelling of Sophocles’s Antigone, set in 1980s Thebes, California. The concept was created by Elizabeth McKoy, who also serves as the director and producer, with a book by Ken Cerniglia and music and lyrics by Chris Rayis. Elizabeth had the incredible idea of reimagining Antigone in 1980s California, using the era’s political climate to amplify the themes of activism and inspire audiences today. The show has been in rehearsal at Elon University and throughout the summer, with a soft premiere in North Carolina on July 30th, hoping to bring it back to Elon following our run at the Edinburgh Fringe.

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

After watching our show, definitely stay to watch more Gilded Balloon Shows (I know I am) such as Slay and Crocodile Rock at the Gilded Balloon Teviot and Girlz and Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody at the Gilded Balloon Patter House!! AND my best friend, and Elon University Music Theatre student, Ana Sofia Hernandez Lopez is also leading Techies at the Alba Theatre at Braw Venues @ Hill Street, Venue 41. Go watch my bestie do amazing things!!!

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EdFringe Talk: Leo Hincks: Emotional Cowboy

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“Even if I bomb, I’m bombing in one of the best festivals in the world!”

WHO: Leo Hincks

WHAT: “After a self-described “career-altering” loss at the Chortle Student Comedy Award Finals in 2024, 22-year-old Leo Hincks returns to where it all went wrong – Edinburgh Fringe. Hincks attempts to perform a brilliant debut comedy show, but realises he may have bitten off more than he can chew. As reality falls apart around the professionally undecided comedian/actor, the audience is whisked through his dreams, nightmares and notes app. In order to find more material, Leo must encounter his darkest fears and ultimately have a showdown with his greatest enemy – himself.”

WHERE: Turret at Gilded Balloon Teviot (Venue 14) 

WHEN: 15:50 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Although it’s my debut solo show, it’s actually not my first time at Fringe. Last year I was there for just one week in a super-fun Queer play called ‘Thirsty’ with the University of Bristol. The only info you might be able to find on it is a two-star review from The Scotsman, but take my word for it, it was an amazing time! Being in a play for a short week in Edinburgh was loads of fun, but now I’m going solo I’m sure it’s going to be a lot more intense.

Nonetheless, Edinburgh feels like Disneyland, it’s crammed with non-stop entertainment and filled with this optimism about the arts that makes you feel like you can do anything. Even if I bomb, I’m bombing in one of the best festivals in the world!

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

A year ago I was prepping to do the show in London for the first time and now it’s going to Edinburgh for the entire month. It sounds obvious but I think the main thing I’ve learnt is that people actually want to see my work. When you’re doing stand-up as a student, there’s this fear that it can only work in this university bubble and once it bursts I’ll have to think of something else to do – that hasn’t been the case. Post-graduation is when I’ve had some of the best things happening for my career, from performing at Top Secret Comedy Club to having Charli XCX comment on my TikTok. I’ve really been able to gain more confidence and become a much better

performer for it. Once I realised that people enjoy watching me, but also that being on stage isn’t a life or death situation, I’ve really been able to come into my own as a comedian a lot more.

Tell us about your show.

Leo Hincks: Emotional Cowboy is written, performed and self-directed by me – it’s hard not to sound like a narcissist. The show see’s me playing a version of myself trying to pull of an amazing debut comedy show, which slowly but surely falls apart as I struggle to keep it together. It’s about Gen Z anxiety, pop-culture and my deep fear of not being taken seriously – all done in a very unserious way. I created and performed the show last February in Bristol at the Alma Tavern, produced by my wonderful friend Rosa Melvin. We then took the show to the White Bear Theatre in London in September, which is where InterTalent Comedy saw it. InterTalent Comedy liked it and are producing the show up at Fringe which I’m so excited about. As for where the show is off to after Fringe – I’ll take wherever will have me!

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

I literally wouldn’t be doing this show if it weren’t for the amazing drama societies at the University of Bristol. They have two shows at Fringe in the final week: Body Parts and God Complex. The array of talent those societies produce is incredible, and I’m not just referring to myself.

Also, gigging in London I’ve come across some not very warm comedians – it happens. Ben Fallaci was the first comedian who didn’t make me feel like I should disappear off the face of the earth before my set. His show Aquarius Rising is on for the whole month, he’s not just kind he’s actually hilarious and the show looks brilliantly alternative.

Alt-comedy is truly where it’s at and I know she doesn’t need to even be plugged but I most certainly will be seeing ‘Patti Harrison: Just Ironing Some Things Out!’ – she is one of my favourite comics of all time. It’s best to go in blind as her shows are weird and wonderful and have almost made me pass out from laughing so hard. Patti is the GOAT!

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EdFringe Talk: Wild Wild Christian

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“Up until now, I’ve experienced the theater world mostly from the grind of New York and Los Angeles, so the sheer, unhinged scale of the Fringe feels both incredibly beautiful and wonderfully terrifying.”

WHO: Simone McAlonen

WHAT: “High Desert. High Holy. High Stakes. Fringe Debut! Direct from Soho Playhouse, NYC. Wild Wild Christian is a hilarious, coming-of-age story about purity culture and spiritual awakenings. Based on childhood journals by award-winning comedian Simone McAlonen, the show picks up where the Netflix documentary Wild Wild Country ends: when a notorious cult compound in rural Oregon is transformed into a wholesome Christian camp. Through her own spiritual journey, Simone explores the surprising links between American Evangelicalism and the current political climate. All while answering the most timeless theological questions. Like: Does fingering count?”

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

WHEN: Varies (50 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Honestly, yes! This is my absolute Fringe debut and my first time performing in Edinburgh. Up until now, I’ve experienced the theater world mostly from the grind of New York and Los Angeles, so the sheer, unhinged scale of the Fringe feels both incredibly beautiful and wonderfully terrifying.

What makes a festival great is the collision of high art and raw, fringe weirdness. I love that you can see a masterpiece in a literal basement next to someone doing interpretive ribbon dancing in a church loft. As a producer and an artist, I am kind of obsessed with seeing people tell stories, it’s my literal favorite thing on the planet.

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

The biggest lesson I’ve learned over the last 12 months is that you cannot over-prepare for your own vulnerability. Reading your actual, incredibly cringey, boy-crazy teenage diary entries in front of a room of strangers is a psychological extreme sport.

I’ve learned that when you think a detail is “too embarrassing” to put on stage, that is usually the exact moment the audience connects with you the most. Have I fully absorbed this lesson? I’ll let you know after I do it for 22 nights straight in a hot room in August.

Tell us about your show.

Wild Wild Christian is my solo comedy/storytelling show. I wrote it, perform it, and produce it under my production house, Midnight Flâneur. The show picks up where the wild Netflix documentary Wild Wild Country ends: when the notorious Rajneeshee cult compound in rural Oregon was bought out and transformed into a wholesome, ultra-intense Christian summer camp. My dad worked there, which meant I spent my adolescence trying to navigate strict purity culture on top of the literal bones of a free-love cult.

It’s a multimedia coming-of-age journey full of real childhood journals, synchronized lighting, physical comedy, and an earnest deconstruction of American Evangelicalism. The show premiered in Los Angeles, had a successful multi-week run at the historic Soho Playhouse in New York City, and now we are bringing it to Greenside @ Riddle’s Court (Willow Studio) for the full month of August.

Post-Fringe, we are looking at touring the show to other regional comedy festivals and creative hubs across the US.

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

You absolutely have to go see the brilliant duo Xhloe and Natasha in their new show Bigfoot Ripped My Dog In Half I Saw It. They are absolute physical theater geniuses. They are also Soho Playhouse alumni, and their work is a masterclass in what Fringe theater should be. Go give them some major love!

I also have to recommend some shows my buddies are doing; One! The Musical by Carlie Craig, The Misfortunes of a Spy and Her Mystic by Joy Donze, and The Gay Divorce by Cecilia Corrigan. They are all incredible shows by voices you should know and will know soon. I also can’t wait to see The Gay Masseurs Guide to Happy Endings and Spin Queen because they are both such fun set ups for shows but explore deeper themes which I think is super cool, clever and creative.

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EdFringe Talk: Geoffrey Asmus: Patriautism

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“My country as a whole is an absolute wasteland”

WHO: Geoffrey Asmus

WHAT: “Americans are the best at imperialism and comedy. We have already proven the first. I am here to prove the latter. Many shows at the Fringe have a narrative throughline and a cute little callback at the end. My show mostly concentrates on being incredibly funny. And if you listen closely you might also just learn something in this uproarious ode to a failing empire. Support for Daniel Sloss. ‘Fans of Fin Taylor will also have a great time here’ Top 10 Live Comedy Shows of 2025 (Comedy.co.uk). Warning: this show is not designed for losers.”

WHERE: Monkey Barrel 4 at Monkey Barrel Comedy (Venue 515) 

WHEN: 19:50 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my very first time at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival. I am excited to teach the Europeans how we Americans do comedy (with punchlines, not lectures). I also might just apply for asylum as a refugee because while America is much better at comedy my country as a whole is an absolute wasteland. So mostly I’m doing Fringe to find somewhere new to call home.

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

Over the last year or two I’ve realized that there is absolutely no point in conforming to the expectations of the audience. I do jokes that I find funny and if the audience does too then thats a neat little bonus. Everyone is trying to discover what the mythical algorithm likes and I simply do not care anymore. And you shouldn’t either. I will be up there having an absolute blast onstage because I am saying exactly what I want. I’m living my dream so yes I’ll be laughing at my own jokes sometimes. Why not.

Tell us about your show.

My show is the hour of stand-up that I have been touring around the USA and Canada for the last 8 months or so. But its not in the same order every night and I will try new jokes on every show because thats what comedy should be. And then this fall I will film a beautiful special out of it all. This special will change the idea of comedy as we know it. Nothing will ever be the same. It will make me around $4,500 and I will be rich forever.

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

Go watch Mike Rice. He’s one of the greatest comedians. 95% of comedians are truly horrible at this. Most stand-up is unwatchable. Mike is a genius. Vittorio and Gianmarco rip as well. If a comic doesnt have a joke mocking Israel they arent worth supporting.

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EdFringe Talk: Kate Hammer: Government Approved Comedian

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“Fringe cannot hurt me, because I am always fringing. Just another thing I have in common with the Hulk.”

WHO: Kate Hammer

WHAT: “One Canadian needs to make you laugh, otherwise she will be deported. Join Kate as she navigates proving herself to get a Global Talent Visa, getting dominated on Vinted, and breaking up with an identical twin. As seen on Breaking the News, BBC Scotland, Roast Battle League and Channel 4. ‘A full package, all tools comedian… It is impossible not to vibe with Hammer’ (Comedy.co.uk). ‘Frenetic and clownishly graphic’ (Chortle.co.uk). ‘Dynamic and charismatic’ (BroadwayWorld.com). ‘Delightful on stage… knows exactly how to land a line’ (One4Review.co.uk).”

WHERE: The Studio at Monkey Barrel Comedy (Niddry Street) (Venue 80) 

WHEN: 17:00 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Last year I did a run in a comedic play by Stuart Laws called STUCK. I played four different puffins and it was my opus as an actor. This year is my first time with a full run as a comedian, and I’m filled with the kind of excitement that makes me quake in my boots (I wear cowboy boots in my show that were purchased from a store in Tennessee called THREE FOR ONE BOOTS, which says a lot about me and my relationship with my parents who are the owners of the other two pairs of boots). I have been hardened by years of performing most nights of the week on top of other work, so in one sense, I have been training for the Fringe for years. Fringe cannot hurt me, because I am always fringing. Just another thing I have in common with the Hulk.

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

I’m like a sitcom character, going through important lessons every single week but rarely absorbing a thing. Some people say I’m bad at learning, but I think I just love learning so much I want to keep doing it again and again. Luckily, I have great people around to remind me of the things I have done in previous episodes, including: you can always do more WIPs, Edinburgh in August can span multiple seasons so wear both a mini skirt, winter jacket, and rain boots at all times, and Kate doesn’t share food. Mostly, I think I probably shouldn’t have directed two independent short films in the months leading up to the Fringe while also trying to write my own hour. Would I do it again and not change a thing? Yes. Because I love learning!

Tell us about your show.

My show is like entering the haberdashery of my mind: filled with knick knacks and tat collected carefully over the years. It might seem messy to anyone else at a quick glance – but everything is important and I know exactly where it is. Mostly. Like 50%. I take the audience through their own, personalized version of a visa application in order to stay in my audience and trust me, my version of a visa application is actually a lot more fun than the real thing, and WAY less expensive. I wrote it, the inimitable Stuart Laws is directing, the fantastic Brass Tacks Comedy is producing, and I’m being funded by Blackfriars, which makes this whole thing possible. I literally do not know what I would do without these people helping me every step of the way, but it would probably involve me taking up goat farming like my ancestors before me.

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

This Fringe is RICH with talent, and I honestly cannot list enough people who are going to do amazing shows and make you laugh your entire footwear range clean off. Kathleen Hughes and Sam Lake are doing limited runs, so get on those tickets FAST, and Grace Mulvey, Eva Peroni, and honestly every single show at Monkey Barrel Comedy will be more than worth your ticket price. Also – ALWAYS take a punt on a show you’ve never heard of, I promise you’ll be so happy you did. And if you aren’t happy you did, come find me after and I’ll buy you a drink.*

*Hope you like water with ice and a slice of lime.

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EdFringe Talk: John-Luke Roberts: What I Talk About When I Run About, Talking

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“I’m excited this year to be doing a type of comedy show different from all my previous shows.”

WHO: John-Luke Roberts

WHAT: “JLR returns with his first new show in four years. Hilarious stand-up about the human condition, nearly dying and what it’s like to have an endoscopy on Remembrance Sunday at exactly 11am. Hilarious, though, that’s the main thing. Some poems too. Aiming for at least five-to-six laughs a minute, so about three hundred total which is pretty good actually. Big accessible laughs too, while not selling out on my alternative roots. Come on, you’ll like it. Fringe Legend Award winner. ***** (List). ***** (Fest). **** (Guardian). **** (Telegraph).”

WHERE: Monkey Barrel 4 at Monkey Barrel Comedy (Venue 515) 

WHEN: 14:10 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

It’s something like my 20th time, and I’ll be doing my 11th solo show. Two years ago I remounted a retrospective of my 10 shows so far, which was kind of a thrilling walk through my Edinburgh memories. I’m excited this year to be doing a type of comedy show different from all my previous shows.

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

That I am going to die one day. I had a scary time in November – I was coughing up blood, and went to A and E to find out I had multiple blood clots in my lungs, which can be lethal. Then a friend died towards the beginning of this year. When I say I learnt I was going to die, obviously, I knew on a sort of intellectual level that death would happen at some point, but this year I’ve actually had to face up to it. So I’m trying to write a really mainstream show about that, which is good actually, because death is a very mainstream topic because we’re all going to die.

Tell us about your show.

I wrote it, I’m producing it, and I’m performing it. It’s a stand-up show about the human condition and it’s got an awful lot of words in it (like terrifying miracle of consciousness, Jamie’s Italian, colonoscopy, goblins, chutzpah, pulmonary embolism, Go Ape, Jung, moths, Skechers and twinge). I’ve done a bunch of WIPs, but Edinburgh will be the proper debut.

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

Too much to mention really – comedy wise, I’m excited to see Bec Hill’s work in progress, and Abby Wimbaugh’s work in progress, and Lil Wenker’s show, and Jonno’s show, and Kate Cheka’s show, and Lara Ricote’s show. I’d also recommened Jonathon Oldfield’s show and Phil O’Shea’s show, but then I directed them.

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EdFringe Talk: Michelle Shocked: Bootleg This!

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“I enjoy the giddiness the Fringe fosters, the sensory overload combined with relentless FOMO.”

WHO: Michelle Shocked

WHAT: “Grammy Award-winning US music artist Michelle Shocked brings her brand new show to the Fringe (Her first UK shows in eight years). Blending music with memoir, Bootleg This! offers audiences a unique, live encounter with the stories behind the songs. Forty years after her legendary bootleg debut – surviving a 13-year blacklist – the Grammy winner returns with a vengeance. The show connects directly with the release of her audio memoir, Bootleg This! A fiercely original voice shaped by Texas folk, blues, with storytelling and spiritual conviction.”

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

WHEN: 20:30 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This will be my fifth Fringe appearance. The first time in 1988 was on a double bill with Richard Thompson, the second as a company member in the Mark Morris Dance Group at the International Festival. I performed at the Fringe in 2017 and again in 2018, both times in an attempt to break the blacklist created by the 2013 defamation. My most memorable moment from the Fringe is a distant memory of an Australian circus that did a brilliant show on the ceiling. Was this around 1988? I’m not sure. Believe it or not, I enjoy the giddiness the Fringe fosters, the sensory overload combined with relentless FOMO.

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

I learned a wonderful lesson in trust, faith and letting go in the production of Bootleg This!, the show based on my audio memoir, in collaboration with my producer, Sue Zizza of SueMedia Productions. There were moments when I truly did not know next steps to take, but Sue, with over 40 years of experience producing audio dramas, knew just the perfect solution. We kept calm and carried on, one step and then another.

Tell us about your show.

Call them producers if you must; I know their criminal identity: enablers of intrepid creativity. Alan Whittaker is the brave captain of our ship, and soon thereafter, Bradford Louryk navigated its artistic direction. Once Dominique Bravo signed on, we found our sea legs. My show is actually two shows; the Truth Show and the Reality Show. Each night, the audience decides which one it’ll be. If I get my way. However, only one show will premier in Edinburgh if the good sense of my producers prevail. The show was road-tested for three months in the Spring; first, my half of a solo show, then a performance of Samuel Beckett’s one-hander, Krapp’s Last Tape, and I’d close with the second half of my show. After Edinburgh I’ll be taking both shows —theTruth Show and the Reality Show—on the road for three months … without adult supervision!

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

Audiences should see The Woman in The Mirror by Dayna Steele, she is a Texas Radio Hall of Famer, but the show focuses on her experience with her mothers Alzheimer’s. I’m also interested to see Andy Macleod in his show SOHO DAYS, CAMDEN NIGHTS, another story about music and the industry.

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