Edinburgh festival 2026: 10 terrific shows we’ve already reviewed

From returning comedy award winner Sam Nicoresti to Flo & Joan’s cheeky One Man Musical, these are surefire standouts at the fringeEdinburgh festival 2026 reviewsIt may contain a brief moment of actual tree-hugging but this bracing solo show by Bry…

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Underground Monk Show: inside Edinburgh fringe’s cult comedy of the highest order

This late-night escapade became a word-of-mouth festival favourite. The show’s creators discuss the method behind its madness – and why you’ll laugh without knowing whyDeep within the cavernous Banshee Labyrinth in Edinburgh’s Cowgate, robed monks stan…

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–320°F review – join Cleopatra, Faust and the Pied Piper on a zany odyssey

Sadler’s Wells, London Hideki Noda’s spectacular vision of villainous biotech and bone conduction is full of dazzling coups but gets bogged down in its earnest messageThis wacky futuristic fantasy by Japanese writer-director Hideki Noda aims high. It o…

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Calendar Girls: The Musical review – heartfelt and hilarious, with nimbly handled nudity

Stephen Joseph theatre, Scarborough This celebratory show by Tim Firth and Gary Barlow delivers emotional openness alongside cracking jokesOne of the great qualities of Calendar Girls is its ordinariness. It takes place in a landscape of Morrisons supe…

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‘Giggly, mischievous and extremely generous’: tributes to Penelope Keith

After her death this week aged 86, colleagues of The Good Life actor remember a star who remained kind, funny and grounded despite her formidable stage presenceActor and artistic director at Shakespeare’s Globe Continue reading…

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Ania Magliano: Peach Fuzz review – body and soul comedy from superb SNL UK star

Soho theatre, LondonThe co-host of Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update delivers an expertly constructed set of jokes about her quest to live a more embodied lifeAfter serving an eye-catching apprenticeship in live comedy, Ania Magliano’s profile has n…

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream review – regal rockers and a fairy folk band strike up trouble

Regent’s Park Open Air theatre, London There’s much to love in Atri Banerjee’s fun staging, in particular Titania’s musical crew and a brilliant Bottom, but some of the wonder is missingThe magic comes in the music in Atri Banerjee’s production of Shak…

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream review – regal rockers and a fairy folk band strike up trouble

Regent’s Park Open Air theatre, London There’s much to love in Atri Banerjee’s fun staging, in particular Titania’s musical crew and a brilliant Bottom, but some of the wonder is missingThe magic comes in the music in Atri Banerjee’s production of Shak…

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Louis CK: Ridiculous review – the troubled comedian returns … with a whimper

The fallen star, who was accused of sexual misconduct in 2017, is back in a Netflix special which has its moments but not enough of themLouis CK is back, again. It’s been nearly a decade since the comedian, actor and writer-director admitted his guilt …

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Show me the funny: essential comedy at Edinburgh fringe 2026

Elf Lyons mixes humour and heartbreak, Frank Skinner works the crowd, Kristen Schaal returns with a secret – and one man sings the same song over and over againNo fringe festival has been complete in recent years without some oddball clown confection –…

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