You’re definitely having a laugh! Six hot comedy debuts at Edinburgh fringe 2025

Molly McGuiness is treating audiences to a buffet, sketch troupe Simple Town bring fast-paced fun and Jessica Barton plays Mary Floppins … Here are half a dozen essential acts at the festival“There should be a buffet at every comedy gig,” says Manchest…

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Edinburgh fringe 2025: the best theatre and comedy we’ve already reviewed

The festival has plenty of returning heroes, from Nina Conti to Nick Mohammed. Here are 10 shows our critics praisedIn cult clown duo Xhloe and Natasha’s two-hander, we are swiftly in the US of LBJ, Beatlemania and Tom Sawyer-style outdoor adventuring….

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Edinburgh festival 2025: 20 theatre shows to see this summer

Peter Pan has a pop fantasy, Faustus is in Africa, Brian Cox leads a banking satire and Billy Connolly meets the late Alasdair Gray. Elsewhere, the joy of pickling, a landmark jazz album and Elton John’s libel case take centre stageWhenever you see a p…

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‘Stupider than everyone else’: one comic’s semi-naked bid to perform dozens of Penguin novels

In a riotous show, Garry Starr dons a tailcoat, flippers and little else to re-enact a bookshelf full of classics. Would you help him bring The Jungle Book to life?Comedy smash-hits come in all shapes and sizes. You’ve got your standup, your sketch – a…

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‘This could be our last year’: student comedy troupes priced out of Edinburgh fringe

Nish Kumar among comedians warning that rising costs could stop university revues visiting the festival‘I don’t have any family connections in comedy or television, my leg up was that I went to a posh university that had this relationship with Edinburg…

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Edinburgh fringe event organisers urged to capitalise on Oasis and AC/DC gigs

Fringe Society CEO says venues could offer concertgoers ‘morning after’ shows or tempt residents who ‘want to hide’Organisers of Edinburgh fringe events have been urged to be “pretty smart” and capitalise on the decision by Oasis and AC/DC to play gigs…

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Shedinburgh festival returns with new 100-seat venue at Edinburgh fringe

Francesca Moody and Gary McNair’s innovative DIY solution to Covid restrictions will be revamped for a series of in-person, one-off showsWhen the 2020 Edinburgh fringe was cancelled due to Covid-19, producer Francesca Moody and theatre-maker Gary McNai…

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‘Our show fits in a duffel bag’: clowning duo Xhloe and Natasha on scoring a triple fringe whammy

They came out of the blue and electrified Edinburgh with absurdist takes on Americana. Now the US pair are doing all three hits back to back – and dreaming of not having to share a roomIt’s a story to keep Edinburgh fringe dreams alive. On their own di…

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‘Our show fits in a duffel bag’: clowning duo Xhloe and Natasha on scoring a triple fringe whammy

They came out of the blue and electrified Edinburgh with absurdist takes on Americana. Now the US pair are doing all three hits back to back – and dreaming of not having to share a roomIt’s a story to keep Edinburgh fringe dreams alive. On their own di…

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Give Edinburgh fringe the same status as Olympics, departing head urges

Shona McCarthy says public authorities have routinely ignored needs of world’s largest arts festivalThe Edinburgh festival fringe should be given the same status as major sporting events like the Olympics or the Commonwealth Games, its outgoing chief e…

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