2026

I don’t reckon I’ll forget this September

bruceonthefringe 2026, Edinburgh music scene, Films, Live bands in Edinburgh, Logan's Close Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
Sadly there was no gold

September has been quite balmy in Edinburgh, great for some late afternoon brambling in the park; well, just for idling in the park generally, making the most of the end of summer. I haven’t picked as many brambles as last year, but then I’m not going to make any wine this time, just lots of jam! Time for a terrible segue, Jed Potts was the guest host at the Handsome House Jam at Stramash on the first Sunday of the month, a fine evening of the blues. It was the second time seeing him that weekend as he and Nicole Smit were doing their thing in the Jazz Bar early Saturday evening, an interesting change from Binkies!

The next HHJ is this Sunday evening, I haven’t seen who the guest host will be; but I do know the Scat Rats are playing after that at ten o’clock, yay! That’s the only music noted on my calendar now until the end of the month – unless something pops up soon. I had toyed with the idea of a wee Highland trip up around Inverness to coincide with Carl Marah‘s gig at the Market Bar (this Saturday), but by the time I thought about it again everywhere cheaper than very expensive was gone, Inverness is obviously going to be very busy this weekend!

Ho hum, shouldn’t grumble, last week was ridiculously great fun; Glasgow on Wednesday for some blues harmonica, the Scat Rats twice on Thursday night (early in Stramash, midnight in Whistlebinkies), they were back in Binkies on the Saturday afternoon, mid-evening spot was Louis Crosland plus two, he was back in Binkies Sunday midnight with two others, that was after he’d played the ten o’clock slot in Stramash with the Moanin‘ Bones; and I didn’t miss a thing (apart from a few opening numbers, as per usual).

Saturday night
Sunday midnight

Friday evening I was in Peebles for Show Don’t Tell, an evening of five short films from the Tweed Valley, by rural filmmakers, with live music afterwards. Okay, so the live music was a short set by Logan’s Close, they also starred in one of the short films, of course I went along! It was held in the Eastgate Theatre, an arts centre in a converted church. Wow, what a great place they’ve created! The auditorium is the actual church (there’s a studio area and cafe too) with well tiered seating (with plenty of leg room!) that can all be retracted back leaving the floor cleared, stairs on both sides up to the three-sided balcony. After the films were shown there was a long break while the band set up and the seating was just taken back a few rows, so that there was room for standing and sitting. I mean, what an amazing use of space! I would definitely go back.

Logan’s Close: Live at Maryhill was up first, quite a gothic feel to it, the lads performing in an old empty theatre, flouncy shirts, and a freaky, disturbing side storyline involving Scott and a surgeon (I would tell you more about it, but it was just really odd, okay?) The songs in it were Costume Changes, Chillz and Dans Le Jardin, beautifully shot in a slightly disorientating way. It was directed by Aidan Duckworth, our host for the evening and also director of GIMP the last film shown (his party, so why not two?). The others were Antlers, Cover-up and Cernunnos; short films, they throw you in at the deep end and expect you to survive confusion, gore, drama, BDSM, old gods and antlers (not just in Antlers!). Fun, but I definitely needed a drink afterwards!

I took a stroll down the main street to the Bridge Inn, a real ale pub that I visited some years ago, yay, they had a Stewart’s ale in. Just a half for me seeing as I was driving, then the stroll back to the theatre took me to almost time to head back into the auditorium and some music. Due to the first part of the evening lasting longer than expected, it was a shorter set than planned just five songs, opening with Babestation on to Costume Changes, Hot Blondes, very new one Cuck Chair, then with the crowd yelling for one more, the lads got the nod to go ahead, so they went out with the bloody magnificent Mock Marble Linoleum, yay! Needless to say, my soundtrack for the drive back to Edinburgh was my Logan’s Close Live at LimbicTV cd. All in all, a damn fine evening!

Ha, since I started this, then paused a while for my tea, I’ve discovered that Louis Crosland (and whoever!) is playing the half nine slot at Whistlebinkies on Saturday, yay. Ha, a Binkies usual, a band was listed as playing that slot on the month’s list poster and the website, and then this week it was TBC on social media – but hey, that’s me happy! There was also confusion over last Sunday’s midnight slot; towards the end of the Scat Rats Saturday afternoon set Carl announced they’d be back the following night, a back and forth ensued between the Rats and George on sound as he was down to play bass with Louis then, I piped up that he was right, erm, they ended up playing Rock, Paper, Scissors for it, hahaha. All friendly banter, the Rats were having a great afternoon, a good, appreciative audience, they never sounded better (in part, thanks to George, he really knows his stuff), Funnel of Love was particularly exquisite 💛 Oh, and we even got an encore of two extra songs over time, sweet!

And on that note I shall bid you goodnight, bonne nuit, gute Nacht, buonanotte!

And that was the end of another one

bruceonthefringe 2026, Absurd comedy, Bands, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Fringe 2026, Fringe Awards, Magic at the Fringe, Sooo fringe, Stand-up comedy, Theatre Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Oops! Hello, I kinda dropped out there. It’s been a whole week since the Fringe fizzled out for another year and even longer since I last tapped out any musings (oh, I’ve mused plenty but failed miserably to get anything done, bad moose). Ha, even just now I manage to distract myself thinking, I’m sure it didn’t used to fizzle out so pathetically, I should look back through all my Fringe planner calendars and see if there’s anything obvious …. much time later, maybe I should get back to writing about the end of this Fringe?! (the fizzle factor can wait for another time)

Ah yes, last thing it was Friday night, start of the final weekend and I was going to see Bad Santa and the Angry Elves and then the Moanin’ Bones; such a fine evening, but so glad I remembered my earplugs, Bannermans is LOUD, kinda to the detriment of the music for me, but that’s the way they like it in there. The second time I saw the show there’d be a few changes, this time the band was purely rocking out sans storyline (hmm, did I mention that I’d seen the show again? well, I did), oh boy, was that fun! Certainly hope they make it back again sometime. Whistlebinkies wasn’t mentally busy, the Bones were great as per usual, but I headed home before the final set, left the loons to it (it was a full moon to be fair).

From having a number of magic shows in my pile of possibilities I only saw one, picked as I’ve never seen him before though he’s been playing the Fringe for years, Charlie Caper, obviously very popular as he’s in the Liquid Room Warehouse (it’s BIG); mind, that really doesn’t equate to whether I’ll enjoy an act. Reader, I loved it, I liked the vibe from him and he’s so good you can’t help but wonder if it really is magic!

I also hadn’t seen much in the way of absurd theatre, or anything at theSpace@Surgeons Hall (which is unusual for me) both remedied with Don’t Flush Me Yet. Gent goes to the toilet (an enormous one onstage) and poos a large sentient poo. Why? How? Who’s that chasing after the man and his poo? A silly, surreal, madcap, absurd caper, I thoroughly enjoyed it, though probably not for everyone.

One show that appeared on the Half Price Hut list most days was Louise: The Last Dance, I started looking out for it, oh, go on then. Wow, what a fascinating show! A one woman show telling the life story of Louise Weber, more famously known as La Goulue the original cancan girl at the Moulin Rouge (and a muse to Lautrec and Renoir), she led a full life from rags to riches and back again. A great asset to the show was the screening throughout of portraits and photographs of her and the area she lived and worked in; and to cap it all, there’s old film footage from 1928 when, at 62 and destitute living in an old caravan in Montmartre, she danced for a documentary filmmaker. A story worth telling and well told; I do quite like shows on interesting historical characters (you may have noticed).

I have mentioned in the past that compilation comedy shows are not always all they make themselves out to be (especially those with titles beginning “Best of …”). I’m a tad wary these days, but I’ll always get to Stand-up Science at some point, it’s fine, there’s Matt Hobs hosting, Alex Farrow as permanent guest and one more science-nerdy type stand-up, yup, guaranteed laughs and the occasional interesting fact. Did I mention seeing Stand-up Philosophy earlier? Well, I did. The lovely Mr Farrow hosts, two other stand-ups, and some philosophy in the mix.

On the last Sunday night I didn’t stay up late enough for the ACMS Awards but earlier in the evening I did attend The Spookies: Horror Awards, it was mentioned in the Wee Blue Book (PBH’s Free Fringe programme, a must). I’d not heard of it before, ah, just in it’s third year, awards to recognise and support horror theatre, and why not? As a niche, it can get lost in the hugeness of Fringe, I’ll admit I didn’t know most of the nominees but had great fun cheering on those who attended in the hope of winning.

As I said, not a late late night for me, just late enough to end the weekend with a right couple of clowns, that would be the very talented, sublimely funny Dan Lees and Tom Curzon: The Sonic Joy Orchestra. Anything can happen and probably will with these two, but it will be ridiculously, wonderfully silly (honestly, you’d have to have a heart of granite not to warm to the pure joy and playfulness here). A fitting finale for my Free Fringe this year, it really doesn’t get fringier than than this pair.

What could possibly follow that on Monday?! Let’s see, the last day of August, hmm, august, a Thom Tuck double bill! How To Fringe: a chat show with Thom Tuck (for a second time), then a quick snack on the way to Hoots’ other Yurt at the Potterow Underpass for Heartwarming Animal Content (WIP). A most convivial way to finish a Fringe, and so interesting to hear anecdotes about past Fringes that I would never have otherwise heard (fifty pence pieces from a door bucket lined up on a pool table so that folk could play for free, yes! a true gent); and hey, I’ve been fringing for so long I could place each reminiscence within my own fringeframe.

And time to finish this post, methinks, it’s very late and a mouse just ran past me, nope, not caring right now. I’ll think of a title with a fresh head in the morning.

Toodle pip!

Friday night, then the final furlough

bruceonthefringe 2026, Edinburgh Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe 2026, Half Price Hut Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

The end is nigh! Okay, so the final weekend of the Fringe is here (it’s Friday evening just now). So far it seems a tad quieter than final weekends usually start, mind, I reckon this Fringe as a whole has not been as busy as it could be. There’s even been room to move on the Royal Mile!

Tomorrow the wind down starts with plenty of shows finishing up (and a few venues totally close too), of the rest, the vast majority end their Fringe on Sunday (sob!), just a few continue to the bitter end. Huzzah, Thom Tuck has a couple of PWYW shows in Hoots venues on Monday, of course he has! There’s a number of shows I quite fancy catching, so this weekend could be pretty busy, if I can get my act together. Oh, and that’s after another very late night of Bad Santa and the Angry Elves in Bannermans at midnight, then a trot up to Whistlebinkies for the Moanin’ Bones until chucking out time, erm, four, I think?! Oh hey, it’ll be the last late late night of my Fringe, well, for now, unless something turns up, of course.

While there’s shows I’d still like to see, and I’m sure there’ll be a few more spring to mind just as it’s too late, hey, I’ve enjoyed the vast majority of what I have seen, so I won’t dwell on what I’ve missed (a previous bad habit of mine). I say the vast majority, there was one real turkey and a couple just not good, hey ho, you take your chances. Of course, there are those I’m still hoping will appear on the Half Price Hut list, you never know; I have a scan through every morning after ten, just in case.

Top Gunchained has been regularly on the HPH list, definitely worth getting a ticket (five stars from yours truly). A couple more that I’ve seen a few times that I haven’t previously mentioned are Strange Face: Adventures with a Lost Nick Drake Recording… The Story Continues, phew, so many long titles this year! A very interesting show this and, despite it saying continues no knowledge of what the first show contained is necessary, also, liking or even knowing who Nick Drake was is not essential either. It’s show about the effect music can have on folk, about one man setting himself a quest, and how quirky coincidence can be. I enjoyed it – I bought the book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another show that has popped up on the HPH list in the last few days is Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities: A Toy Theater Atlas and no I haven’t spelt Theater wrong, they’re from America. This is a table top production, so yes, it’s small but there is projection and the venue is well tiered, phew. How to explain this show? It’s unique, utterly charming, beautifully detailed; cities, landscapes appear out of boxes and tins, evolve and return again. I know that sounds bizarre, it is! It’s fringe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Before I head out, one more quick mention, I caught it early yesterday evening Vampires of Mississippi a one man show at the Banshee Labyrinth, a fitting venue for a tale of horror and despair. It sure chilled me, didn’t matter the ending was kinda obvious, the telling was really well done and the changes in lighting set the scenes so well. Yup, glad I finally got round to seeing it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Now I really must dash. Toodle pip!

Musings, music and a movie

bruceonthefringe 2026, a rant, Bands, Cinema, Comedy, Edinburgh Fringe 2026 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Yesterday evening I took myself off to the cinema to see Casino, showing as part of a Scorcese season at Cineworld, oh boy, such a brilliant film, so full-on and powerful (and a great soundtrack). Walking back along towards the Grassmarket I was definitely in need of something light and fun, it was very nearly eleven o’clock, so I took a right at Hoots @ the Apex and went to see Beatlesjuice again! Yay! Okay, so Rob’s voice is starting to go a tad from the nightly singing, but for one, it’s fine for Beatlesjuice’s raspy tones, and second, with his exuberant performance it’s kinda endearing (to this moose, anyway).

《Edit Oops, I thought I’d written a review for Beatlesjuice when I saw it last week, nope! Well, it’s so brilliant I went back for more, nuff said ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️》

Afterwards, heading down the Cowgate it occurred to me that it would be possible for someone out Fringing to see Bad Santa and the Angry Elves which finishes at eleven at the Caves, to then walk smartly along to the Apex for Beatlesjuice at ten past. Honestly, ten minutes is enough, and besides the first five minutes is, Hello, has everyone seen Beetlejuice? Does everyone know the Beatles? Even the more obscure tracks? Like the ones by Ringo? And a bit more banter before starting proper. It’s doable, and wow, what a double bill!

Yesterday was one of those Tuesdays, so I headed up Niddry Street to Whistlebinkies and the Scat Rats for a couple of hours, sweet. I’ll be finishing off tonight in there as well, it’s Louis Crosland and whoever he’s rustled up to play bass and drums. Friday midnight sees Louis back in there with the Moanin’ Bones to bring in the weekend, yeah, the English bank holiday weekend and start of the Fringe fizzle down. Actually, a thought occurred to me the other day when yet another person asked how long the Fringe would be going on for, people, it always ends on the English Bank Holiday Monday, well, the few final bits of Fringe finish up. Why not, instead of a fixed ending, fix the start instead? Have it so that 241 Monday in the first full week is on the Scottish Bank Holiday Monday, ergo, more local and Scottish folk generally to come and see more shows and spread the word on what’s good? That way the end will be three sundays after that, no silly sad Monday leftovers. And breathe.

While I’m tapping away here I suppose I might mention a few more shows I’ve seen. It’s been some years since I saw Felicity Ward so I popped along to Cabaret Voltaire for an entertaining hour, and she says at the beginning it may be in the afternoon but some content is well, more for evening after a few cocktails with the girls. She is funny, just not as much my cup of tea anymore, palates change you know (still some howling funny moments for sure). Maybe if I’d had a cocktail on my way in ⭐️⭐️⭐️½

Mind, I was also not long out of God’s Longest, one of the most darkly funny improvised comedy sketch shows I’ve seen. I went twice last year, this year they’re across from last year’s venue, in Supercube Cowgate, it’s one of those creepy karaoke room places (well, I think they’re creepy). Yeah, following that, Ms Ward had her work cut out. Yeah, this is one weird bunch, just hang on and enjoy the ride, oh, they have no clue where they’re headed either but they’ll go there and beyond. It’s part of the PBH’S Free Fringe so no particular prior planning is needed, Cowgate at half two. Yes, it’s ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ again.

If you’ve been paying attention you’ll know I went to see Will & Noah: Dinner Dinner Chicken Winner after chilling in the Park yesterday. Sadly Peregrine were just closing up as I went past, so I didn’t get to have a cake, dammit, but I did make it to George Square Gardens in plenty of time. Will and Noah play off each other well, obviously having fun with the material, then they’d pair up together against some unfortunate audience member, haha. No no, they’re gentle with them, although it was hilarious how an audience member interpreted the sketch he was pulled into; note, I kinda picked up on it at the time so was not as surprised as Will and Noah, but I wasn’t surprised that the sketch had never been taken that way before (nope, I’m going to leave you wondering!). I think they’re trying new areas and pushing their boundaries, and why not, but for me it didn’t always land as well it might. Oh, I did enjoy it aside my niggles, these guys are very funny together and their interactions with the audience are brilliantly played out; the show has won an award, so why not check it out for yourself? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Anyhoo, I’ve been tapping this out through the day, time for Binkies again. More musings tomorrow.

Toodle pip!

Sunshine, smiles and stars

bruceonthefringe 2026, Comedy, Edinburgh Fringe 2026, Fringe weather, Holyrood Park Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

I don’t usually write blog posts on my phone but it’s so lovely up here, just me and the crows and the odd snatch of far off conversation on the breeze. Where am I? High at the top of Moose Ridge enjoying the warm sunshine. I had intended to be up here much earlier, yeah, no, wasn’t going to happen. Hey ho, I have a while before my next show, and I have pumpkin seeds to munch on. Next show? Its Will & Noah: Dinner Dinner Chicken Winner at George Square Gardens. They had a cracking show last year and reviews are looking good for this time too. Mind, I expect nothing less than brilliantly bonkers from Will BF.

Last night I went along to see Moon Team IIIV again, yes, for a third year! But each time Will’s tightened bits and made tweaks, especially to Swimothy – at this rate that fish will have his own show next year! Indeed, Swimothy’s plaintive solo is quite a highlight, what a voice! Moon Team IIIV is what the Fringe is about, a mad idea brought to life, a spark of joie de vivre. Okay, for some this show will be just tooo silly, but hey, for this moose it’s silly to make the soul soar ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh yeah, before I head down, oo, possibly past Peregrine for one of their scrummy cakes, I went to see Hudson Hughes: At Your Service again, this time everything worked, every whistle whistled and every bell rang, and how! That ratcheted up the horror somewhat (but that second preview was glorious madness, Hughes was brilliant), and the imp, oh, he was great. Comedy horror to chill and tickle your funny bone, definitely worth that extra half star! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Must dash, I’ve an awards show, well, a show about awards, to see. Toddle pip!

If you have metal in your heart…

bruceonthefringe 2026, Christmas, Edinburgh Fringe 2026, Fringe reviews Tags: , , Leave a comment

It’s the start of another weekend, well, Friday night. No, I’m not stopping in, just taking time to write some more, I’m aware that I saw a great show this time last week but never got to mentioning it (at least I did a couple of IG stories). Time to rectify this, before I’m allowed out for any more fun. A warning though, there’s three Santa themed shows in the Cowgate area, I have no idea about the other two, the one I totally recommend to anyone with metal in their hearts is Bad Santa and the Angry Elves, no, I don’t mean people with heart valves, I mean those who love heavy metal, hard rock from the seventies onwards. Oh, it’s on at Just the Tonic in the Caves, at half nine, and not just an hour, this baby’s ninety minutes long, yay!

Oh, other people will have a great time too, but anyone who used to let loose at the local Rock Night back in the day, but then, somehow, life left all that behind, this show is for you! So many rock classics are in there with brilliant parody lyrics telling the story of how Bad Santa was banished from the North Pole (honestly, he’s not bad, just misunderstood) along with his posse of elves; blasts from the past like AC/DC’s Big Balls – three chords in was when my grin went full loon mode, stayed that way the rest of the night!

Bad Santa bares his soul

A wonderfully bonkers concept, yes, but Santa has one helluva band in those elves; all great musicians! You will be up dancing before the end, you won’t be able to help yourself! And there is quite a story to the narrative, the guy was done wrong, Bad Santa pours his heart out to us to make us understand what happened, this guy testifies!

A magnificent show, loved it, and yes, I fully intend to see it again! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Now I must away, Louis’s playing at Binkies in ten minutes. Toodle pip!

A scare, a scam and some Sam

bruceonthefringe 2026, Comedy, Edinburgh Fringe 2026, Theatre Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

I’m currently on a train heading to Glasgow, thought I’d use the time to start a new post, a look back on the first full week of the Fringe. It’s been rather good, some fair and some absolutely cracking shows; and a return visit to Edinburgh for some of my favourite Irish musicians. But first, a very welcome return to the Fringe, they had to cancel their run last year, the waiting was finally over for…

Crybabies: The Scaring Wow, just wow! A comedy horror, there’s plenty of silly, even the sinister bits are silly, often thanks to Ed Jones; he takes his characters so far but never tips over the edge. Then there’s the ridiculously funny and really rather creepy too, character of a young boy played by James Gault (a wonderful visual gag that just became more hilarious every time he appeared). The other third of the comedy trio, Michael Clarke, plays a former priest having to deal with all the strange oddities played by Jones and Gault within the setting of an old hotel (plenty of horror in one of those). Crybabies have pushed the boat out to ensure the visual and sound effects are a match to their performances; a masterclass in funny, an absolute hoot! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

From a comedy trio at the top of their game to a most august Fringe institution, the Tuck. The Wolf of Poyais is the perfect role for Thom Tuck, a deliciously dark, conniving character from the early nineteenth century (while some actors somehow look too modern to play historical figures, Tuck fits older times perfectly). The Wolf refers to a Gregor MacGregor who lived a very eventful life, which included conning hundreds of people into investing and emigrating to a country he made up, that’s Poyais.

The story is told as MacGregor turns motivational speaker delivering his “Eight steps to success” with flip chart! But here’s the thing, it’s true! Thom Tuck with his marvellous eloquence and talent for voices and accents, charms us into liking MacGregor as he tells his life story, laughing at his exploits even when he’s recounting very terrible things he did, now justifying it all to himself (I say himself, these are more sober moments for the audience, as we’re aware there’s still many very successful conmen around). An hour of rollicking adventures, audacious lies anoh, and Id thoughts to ponder about human nature. Bloody magnificent and I got a badge! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

And so from the silly to the sublime to the “could someone please tell me what I just witnessed?!” I went to see Flabbergast Theatre in the Pleasance at EICC. Always on the unnerving side, Flabbergast are, for me, the theatrical version of The Tigerlillies, creepily entrancing, creatures from elsewhere, a realm apart; Endgame by Samuel Beckett is already a realm apart, so with added Flabbergast! Hmmm, yeah, I picked it on account of the theatre company, note to self, check everything. Beckett is not for everyone and that includes me, at ninety minutes long, the bleakness drained all my joy. Having said that, while it wasn’t really my mug of tea, I could appreciate that it was great theatre.

Beckett’s world was well realised, I felt was there (though for me, wrong venue, odd, old places are where the Flabbergast world shines through the brightest). Centre stage Henry Maynard (the creator of Flabbergast) holds court as Hamm, unable to move from his chair but desperate to control his small, contained world, including his parents who live in two dustbins and Clov, a young man who’s incapable of sitting down. Clov is the one moving part, and though that’s done in pain, there is a bitter humour to it. Yup, an odd play but then it’s Fringe, a good time to dip your toes outside your comfort zone; while I probably won’t go see another Beckett play, I will go see Flabbergast Theatre next time they’re in town ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Next time, the antidote for Beckett malaise.

Toodle pip!

Six of the best, plus one

bruceonthefringe 2026, Comic theatre, Edinburgh Fringe 2026, Fringe Top Tip, Physical Theatre, Sooo fringe Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Hey, the first Monday of the Fringe, I took myself into Holyrood Park this morning, up along Moose Ridge, on to the Nether Hill and down the steps, such a beautiful day for it! Nicely warm with a balmy breeze, and it’s set to get warmer this week, sweet. Here’s hoping Fringe venues have good air-conditioning or at least plenty of ventilation. Fringe Tip: say yes to a sturdy flyer for use as a fan. Oo, also beware of having a large lunch – a warm, dark room, smooth, relaxing tones, nodding off is deceptively easy (so make that a two shot coffee).

Anyhoo, six of what, who’s best, huh? Or have I been a very naughty moose?! And why plus one? As Fringe starts go, this has been brilliant for me, and, well, I don’t reckon (though I would love to be wrong about this) I’ll see anything that will knock these shows down my list of favourites. Okay, so I have two coming up this week that will definitely be joining them (oo, then one more will complete my top ten), but these are Fringe gems to this moose.

First off, proving my Fringe-dar is working fine, A Foot is Not an Appropriate Prize for the Tombola was delightful romp that starts when a dismembered foot is discovered in the tombola stall at the village fete. Lydia is determined to get to the bottom of it, despite being told to leave well alone by the local policeman, things soon escalate in unexpected ways! The audience participate a lot in this, but hey, tombola prize for all those do! I was at the second preview, still a bit shaky and Lydia (Daniel McVey) did refer to the script, ahem, the fete schedule a fair bit, but for me it all added to the hilarity; McVey was brilliant, he’s created a true piece of Fringe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Crimes of Pete had me grinning from the start, authors being hauled off by the state (black comedy, btw), the purgatory of each other’s company and the reason Pete was taken; dark, sharp humour all round. Then a chink of hope appears for Pete from an unlikely ally, but what about his cellmates? Another hour of pacy writing and great performances from Tinned Laughter; definitely worth seeing, Shepherd-Cross is in danger of becoming a Fringe institution! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So good to have Tom Neenan back at the Fringe, it’s been awhile. The last time was in 2018 with It’s Always Infinity still sitting high in my Hall of Fringe Favourites! Since then Neenan has taken up painting, there’s regularly new portraits on his Instagram, so the topic of this year’s show isn’t too surprising, Tom Neenan: Portrait of a Tom as a Young Neenan with a self-portrait as the publicity shot. I could listen to him for well more than an hour, an amusing wit, he moved almost seamlessly between his two narratives, never losing his audience, a thoroughly lovely show ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

Hudson Hughes: At Your Service is a completely different kettle of kippers, a wickedly funny show, silly with a big dollop of horror. Of course, there was going to be plenty of props and animatronics (and Aidan Pittman turning up on video), did it matter that there were technical difficulties? Nope, for one, it was second preview so it’s allowed, almost inevitable, and second, watching Hughes keeping his composure and artfully keeping everything on track was an extra layer of hilarity, he done good! It’s a very silly, full-on hour of ridiculous. Totally Fringe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

I’ve never cared for the film Top Gun, never particularly liked Tom Cruise, but as Top Gunchained is by the guy behind Yippee Ki Yay, oh yeah; and he’s back in the Wine Bar at Gilded Balloon Teviot, one room that looks pretty much as it did. Richard Marsh has created another great double narrative, the (unauthorised) retelling of a film, and healing familial issues. There’s plenty of effects and props, audience participation (all good fun), big laughs and heartfelt moments, and all done in verse. Most excellent ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another unauthorised retelling, another very long title, Goodbye Horses: An Unauthorised Solo Retelling of The Silence of the Lambs. Ye gods, this was intense! Michael Kinnan‘s portrayals of Starling and Lechter are brilliant, but especially the sense of Lechter’s dark calculating humour. The atmosphere created was so creepy, so tense; it’s been a while since I saw the film, parts only coming back to me as it unfolded, but I wonder what it would be like to see this without ever seeing the film (or read the book). Oh, and you might need to go have a drink afterwards, a nice chianti, perhaps? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Last one, but definitely not least. I knew this would be good, the new play by the Voloz Collective (another long title), REDACTED: The Cover-up of a Cover-up of a Cover-up everything about it is a sheer delight, not least the incredible synchronicity between the actors, physical theatre surely doesn’t get any better than this?! An action-packed comedy thriller, with an elegance and style like some classic Hollywood movie, especially with the accompanying live music. Magnifique! Possibly the best thing I’ll see this Fringe! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (⭐️)

Really, I don’t know how the rest of my Fringe can measure up to a start like that. Anyhoo, my bed is calling. G’night!

I wrote this last night

bruceonthefringe 2026, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Fringe 2026, Fringe Venues Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

Oh dear lord, it’s wet out there! I would just stay in, take a night off, but I’m meeting a friend. According to the forecast it’s going to be rainy until tomorrow late afternoon. I’ve already decided to bake a cake in the morning, haven’t made one in ages and I have a few pears will need eating , so a pear sponge cake it will be!

After saying in my last post that I hadn’t yet been in Teviot I popped in yesterday afternoon after seeing a show in George Square, it is very different, I’m kind of ambivalent to the changes, apart from one, I’m annoyed! The old Library Bar is now exclusively for performers, dammit. At least the room that I think used to be called the Refectory has another name but yay, the upper balcony area is still accessible, that could be a writing spot again. I have a show there tomorrow afternoon, I should the refurb will have included reasonable temperature controls.

So far the warmest venue has been ZOO Playground 1, the heat kind of added an extra uncomfortable edge to the feverish dream quality of the play (not nightmarish, just that unease that you dreamt something awful but can’t recall, and your body shudders when you try). The fact that The Last Drop might be in Brazilian Portuguese (being from Brazil) had not occurred to me, no worries folk, there are subtitles, but this again added to the otherness. I didn’t always follow what was happening but am not sure if that was me or how the play plays; very much like a David Lynch film, just sit back and go with it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️½

This afternoon I headed to the Westend, off Princes Street, to a place I didn’t know existed. It was to see Mistakes on Maps, I assumed the venue name, Library of Mistakes was just a joke to go along with the show, nope, it’s a real place (dedicated to the study of financial history) tucked away down along a back lane. Historical maps and facts, some quirkier than others, that’s it, interesting if that’s your thing; okay, I thought the presentation was a tad lame, but these are map nerds sharing their passion, fair enough. If you’re not rushing away afterwards there are plenty of maps laid out to peruse and chat about. If you’re a secret map nerd, this may be for you, you’ll need a map to find it!

I would also mention St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral nearby, that bloody huge building at the end of Melville Street. Definitely worth a look if you have time!

Toodle pip!

So far so good

bruceonthefringe 2026, A good audience, Badges, Edinburgh Fringe 2026, Fringe history Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Thursday evening, six shows in, and it’s just occurred to me that I haven’t had a ganders round Teviot yet (Gilded Balloon) despite going past at least twice, I don’t think my head has properly registered that it’s open again. Past years I would definitely have been in by now, even without shows to be seen, a first drink in the Library Bar, oh, I do hope they haven’t ruined it with their refurbishments. I’ve not bought one preview ticket for anything in there, but then previews have generally been cut down to just Wednesday and Thursday; time was when many previews ran right up to Saturday (no wonder I crammed in so many shows). Mind, the 241 days were originally the first Sunday and Monday, the Sunday was a very busy day! Fun times.

Safety warning for The Dark Room

On fun times, John Robertson’s The Dark Room was an excellent end to my first day, love his energy and wild glee as he interacts with the crowd. Last night’s audience was ready to have fun, the Darrens were all great, funny how things can go with these shows, but Robertson is a master of his art, he just wears it lightly, teasing the potential chaos. Now I’m a relative newcomer to The Dark Room but the folk behind me, ha, they were joining in Robertson’s retorts to players’ option choices; he has quite a number of loyal fans, the shows will sell out. Of course he’s doing a free Fringe show too, Excitable Boy! He most certainly is.

Time to head for a late night show; I’ll do a round-up tomorrow of shows seen so far. I’ll leave you with a pic of my first badge this Fringe, I say first, I do hope more shows will have badges to hand out. Toodle pip!

The eyes have it