Edinburgh Fringe 2026

Tis the season to be scary

bruceonthefringe 2026, Cinema, Edinburgh Fringe 2026, Edinburgh music scene Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Yay, just booked a ticket to see From Dusk Til Dawn tomorrow night, yes, I’ve seen it number of times, but hey, back on the big screen, oh boy (might even get me some popcorn!). Just as well I had a look what was coming on, I reckon it’ll be pretty much a full house, these one-off screenings are proving very popular and it’s a wild film. It also has a killer soundtrack album, as would be expected; there’s ZZ Top in there, tracks by Stevie Ray and Jimmy Vaughan, and more from Tito & Tarantula (previously featured on the soundtrack of Desperado, another excellent album).

In other horror news, Hudson Hughes: At Your Service will be on in London next month at the Soho Theatre, well worth checking out, five stars from yours truly at the Edinburgh Fringe. It’s also in the running for a Brucie, neck and neck with Crybabies: The Scaring, exciting stuff! And should Rob Kemp: Beatlesjuice be considered in any comedy/horror category? Goodbye Horses wasn’t technically horror, but by god, it gave me the heeby-jeebies! Yes, I’ve been giving some serious thought to this year’s BOTFFAs, well, as serious as I can muster.

I did mention last post that the Bruce On The Fringe Fringe Awards would happen this weekend, but uh, I’m now booked at the cinema for tomorrow evening, and I’ll also be out Sunday evening too, it’s the Handsome House Jam at Stramash, with guest host Louis Crosland, yay! About time! I’m looking forward seeing that. Honestly, I have great intentions, not so great ideas, and too many shows crowding in my head; I’m just lacking a certain little spark (it’s still not turned up). Ho hum.

More moose musings tomorrow, promise. G’night!

How to entice a spark back

bruceonthefringe 2026, Edinburgh Fringe 2026, Films, Flyerers, Holyrood Park Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

Hello! Sorry but I’ve lost my spark, I don’t know where I put it, or even when I last had it, honestly I’ve looked everywhere, so I’m just going to start writing, hope it takes pity on me and makes an appearance. There’s still this year’s Brucies to announce, you know, the Bruce On The Fringe Fringe Awards, this is something I really need my spark back for, to come up with award categories. So I’m just gonna waffle about anything that pops into my head or that I can find scrawled in my notebook – still reading are you? Hahaha.

Notebook scrawls, I have plenty of those, quick notes written to remind myself of bits in shows, written with only the briefest glances down into the gloom. Often ineligible in the light and occasionally written over other notes that I didn’t notice were already on the page. Sometimes I’ll write a line thinking it will good a starting place, yeah, umm, what was that about? Those scrawls can be sitting there a long time, but recently I got tough and ripped plenty out. One still in there – do you enjoy laughing?

That line, do you enjoy laughing, was asked me by a flyerer. She was so lucky I didn’t pause to give a reply, I think I was on my way somewhere so dismissed the temptation as I didn’t have any time to spare. See, it immediately took me back years ago to when a friend of a friend told me I would like some band or other because – well, I like music, ergo, I’d like that music. What!?!? Huh? Our mutual friend managed to keep a straight face, inwardly howling with laughter as he knew I would hate them (I could see it in his eyes as he held back the tears). Back to the flyerer, I remember thinking as I strode away that I could have replied, “What makes you think your show’s funny enough to make anyone laugh?” Ouch, mean that, I kinda surprised myself, on the other hand, had I had the time to chat, a valid question.

Yes, I’ve seen the bloody rain – probably written one night in Whistlebinkies. This is about the old Creedence Clearwater Revival song, up there with I’m A Believer as songs I wouldn’t miss if I never heard them again, on the other hand, within a set of music that I do want to hear, it provides time for a loo break. See, I do look for the positives! Oh, and I don’t dislike either song, just, nah.

Did you know that in Holyrood Park there’s a patch of raspberry canes? Not a big patch, but not tiny either, reckon if I go at just the right time of year I could pick enough for a few jars of jam and the odd pie. Yes, I’ve made a note on my calendar to go check it out next summer; and no, I’m not going to divulge it’s exact location (they’re mines!!) And on the Park, I just noticed the other day that the fences were away from the start of the Radical Road at the Powderhouse Corner end, yay (quite how long I’ve been walking past without noticing, well!) It’s just reopened as far as the old quarry, with plenty of warning signs everywhere. I’ve been wandering up to the top of Salisbury Crags for the beautiful skies at dusk, a tad scary once it gets darker (it would have been for the no-doubt magnificent sunsets, if I could just get the timing right).

Oo, must mention how brave I was at Cineworld a couple of weeks ago. I was there to see Hope, a Korean monster sci-fi movie. It was midafternoon, only a few in, two of those few kept bloody talking to each other, just loud and often enough to put a dent on my enjoyment. One chap a few rows in front of them did move across the room, I vaguely considered it but I was in a great spot so felt disinclined to give up such a prime location. Another guy got up and went over to tell them to shut up, they did, for about five minutes. Emboldened by his action, I decided it was time to make a stand myself (here I should mention I was in the row behind them about eight or nine seats along), so I snuck along to right behind them … “Will you two either shut the fuck up or fuck off!” Oh, how they jumped, I gave them the meanest glare I could muster and went back to my seat. Reader, not another peep was heard!

Nearly time to sleep, hopefully I’ll keep the momentum going and write again tomorrow. Maybe I can build up to announcing the winners of this year’s Brucies at the weekend, hmmm, as the clocks go back, Bruce takes a look back at this year’s Fringe, oh yes, that sounds good. But like I said before, I haven’t even decided on categories yet; see back in 2022 I was inspired by the wonderfully bonkers ACMS Awards, it was like the culmination of a month of absurdities, my spark was crackling, fizzing with all kinds of silly. Ho hum. Goodnight!

View over to the southside of town from St Leonards Crag
The view at dusk from Salisbury Crags

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 cactus, a fool and a madam

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The rain gods are stepping up their game. Wednesday saw the heaviest deluge, flashfloods aplenty, so many people were caught out by it. Me? I was in a Fringe show at the Assembly Rooms, it was tailing off when I stepped out on to George Street, I soon recalled having my brolly earlier!? Aha, a quick sprint to the Auld Hundred, phew, it was still there hanging on the end of the radiator; ah yes, see, Mr Marah had been playing there (there’s extra live music on weekday afternoons during the Fringe) which tied in nicely with one of the shows I fancied seeing.

The show was Clive one man and his cactus. One of two shows I’d bought Half Price Hut tickets to see that day. Clive should come with a warning, some may find it (much as I hate the word) triggering. Oh, the toxic office culture, bad, nay, terrible managers; for every good manager there’s sooo many bad ones, too many. Managers with their favourites, most likely the sycophants who say all the right stuff but never actually do any of the bloody work, or at least not to any decent standard, but they still get praised!?! And why do people get promoted to manager? Oh, they’ve been there the longest, and that makes them suitable to manage other people how?? Or again, they’re a sycophant that everyone other than the high-ups can see would be a terrible choice. Basically, a managee, like a politician, should rarely be the person who wants to be one (I say rarely, there’s always the odd exception). I say this as who’s worked under a wide scope of managers in my time, from plain nasty to apathetically useless to clueless to the best, most solid, had everyone’s backs, gave us their time and in return we worked hard. And breathe.

Like I said Clive may be triggering, it’s also very good. Thomas (the human in this, Clive is the cactus) works for home, from once being full-time in the office he isn’t required to go in anymore, yeah, not always the best way. Things start to become difficult, at first imperceptibly but slowly the true situation comes to light, certainly to us the audience, Thomas tries to stay hopeful, trusting, talking everything out with Clive (a somewhat one-sided conversation!) It’s not all harrowing, there’s plenty of wry humour in the dialogue; an excellent performance by Paul Keating had the audience rooting for Thomas. Does he get a good ending? Not gonna tell you. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My other Half Price Hut ticket was for Madam(e) Lou in one of my favourite venues Paradise In The Vault. This hadn’t been on my radar at all, but flicking through the list of HPH shows on my phone, the fan and font caught my eye. I’m not afraid of a history lecture dressed up fancy as a Fringe show, especially when it’s a this is what really happened, thing, and it is a most interesting tale of the founding of Seattle, shock horror, about a woman, a madame! Kate Danley really had to dig deep to find the truth about Madam Lou, funny that, like people were happy to forget that bit about a successful woman. History can be revealing, you know ⭐️⭐️⭐️½

One more mention then I really should grab myself a late lunch (very late!), mind, whilst briefly out earlier I popped into the Holyrood Coffee Shop for coffee and a slice (raspberry and coconut), it’s kept me going! A great wee place for some good food and a break before heading off for more Fringing, and if it’s too busy (well, it is small) there’s it’s sister cafe across the junction, the Cowgate Coffee House, both have good window seating for watching the world going by outside.

So, back over on George Street in the New Town, one of my favoured possibilities appeared on the HPH listing, Lear’s Fool on at Greenside at George Street, yay (I had a very good feeling about this one). Be aware, there are three larger venues on George Street, this is the one at the east end, closest to St Andrews Square. I give this warning, as a friend who wasn’t paying attention just went, oh, my next show’s on George Street and it’s not at the Assembly Rooms, must be the other one, and headed to Greenside instead of the Grand Lodge nearer the Westend, oops, he missed his show.

Anyhoo, Lear’s Fool, a triumph! Another great play that takes a character from Shakespeare and asks but happened to them? (last year there was the brilliant Iago Speaks) Okay, so I’m not overly knowledgeable on King Lear but it was fine, I should think anyone could get the gist quite quickly. The Fool is female in this production, and how it works! The Fool has the wisdom of the innocent and speaks the truth, it just comes out as funny to the listeners, but her jailers are not laughing, they’re demanding information that the Fool doesn’t know, oh dear. Though the plot is sad and feels inevitable, the action and performances are strong, often hilarious, and very enjoyable. If you want some Shakespeare without the actual Shakespeare! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

A scare, a scam and some Sam

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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!