Articles by Victor Black

Stamptown Comedy Night

From the moment Zach Zucker's comedy alter ego Jack Tucker walks out on stage to introduce Stamptown, the audience knows they're in for something truly special.

Beehavioural Problems: Something Something Autism

As comedian Stephen Catling ambles onto stage, clad in a novelty dog head, it's apparent that we're sitting in an absurdist comedy show.

Frank Skinner: 30 Years of Dirt

In Frank Skinner's Thirty Years of Dirt (a clever pun I shamefully only just got this second), Skinner proves exactly what makes him such a dab hand at this comedy malarkey.

Sexy Circus Sideshow

Sexy Circus Sideshow succeeds in being sexy, and includes both circus and sideshow.

5 Mistakes That Changed History

Review
★★★
Victor Black
Edinburgh Fringe
Assembly George Square / Assembly George Square Studios
8th Aug, 2023

In 5 Mistakes That Changed History, host Paul Coulter establishes the self-evident premise, that this will be something of a comical TED Talk about some fascinating moments that sh…

The Umbilical Brothers: The Distraction

The Umbilical Brothers (Shane and David Umbilical) are two multi-award-winning Australian actor-comics who have created a genuinely fresh and modern style of comedy show, combining…

Benjamin Alborough: Absolute Monopoly

In Absolute Monopoly, host Benjamin Alborough proves himself a Milburn Pennybags (aka Mr Monopoly) for the 21st Century.

Jon Culshaw: Imposter Syndrome

After over 30 years in the business, impressionist legend Jon Culshaw finally debuts his one-man show at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Juliette Burton: No Brainer

Juliette Burton opens her new show, No Brainer, clad in a t-shirt emblazoned with the typically Burtonesque "Brains are the new tits".

How to Flirt: The TED XXX Talk

How to Flirt: The TED XXX Talk is a fun and interactive comedy lecture with a lot going for it.

Hypnotist Matt Hale: Top Fun! 80s Spectacular

As hypnotist Matt Hale enters the stage to '80s music, in '80s clothing, it is apparent this is going to be a very '80s hypnosis show.

Married at First Sleight

In Married at First Sleight, married magicians Kat and Alan Hudson introduce their show with boundless enthusiasm, demonstraing the obvious chemistry you'd hope to witness from…

Gail Porter: Hung, Drawn and Portered

As 90s TV star Gail Porter walks onstage, she confidently addresses the fact that her mic isn't working, and, in doing so, somehow wins the audience over more than she may have…

Adam Kay: Undoctored – This is Going to Hurt... More

As Adam Kay closes in on becoming a household name, he is evidently an Edinburghhold name, packing out the prestigious Pleasance Grand to brimming point.

Dominique Salerno: The Box Show

Dominique Solerno’s The Box Show is a well-conceived theatrical piece which sees this talented and versatile performer performing a plethora of different characters, all from wit…

Stark Bollock Naked

Stark Bollock Naked does exactly what it says on the tin - minus the bollocks.

The Cambridge Footlights International Tour Show

For anyone who knows the first thing about the history of Edinburgh Fringe, and indeed, comedy itself, you should already be familiar with Cambridge Footlights and its roster of al…

The Thinking Drinkers Pub Quiz

Before the Thinking Drinkers even begins, the audience experiences a feeling which is very rare at Edinburgh Fringe: ‘This show is value for money!’Provided with a bag containi…

Bubble Show for Adults Only

Edinburgh Fringe is a hub of unique and wild shows, contrasting genres and varieties of themes crunched into a tight hour.

Spank!

For regular Fringegoers who aim to tick all the most talked-about and cultest shows off your list, I’m going to make a prediction: you’ve seen Spank! before.

MARVELus: All the MARVEL Movies... Kind Of!

The Just Us League of Javier Jarquin and Gary Tro return with an update of their whistlestop tour of the first 3 Marvel Cinematic Universe phases (somewhat contradicting their titl…

Reuben Kaye: The Butch is Back

If you want to discover – or further explore – cabaret, you couldn’t do better than to start with Reuben Kaye.

Magical Bones: Soulful Magic

Britain’s Got Talent finalist Magical Bones is one of the more recognisable magicians on the Fringe thanks mostly to his BGT appearance.

Randy Feltface: Alien of Extraordinary Ability

Of the 39 shows I saw in three and a half days this Fringe, the biggest gamble and least familiarity was Randy Feltface.

The Black Blues Brothers

Black Blues Brothers have quickly gained the reputation as one of the go-to circus-based acts on the Fringe, and, after witnessing this spectacle, it’s not hard to see why.

Dom Chambers: Fake Wizard

America’s Got Talent semi-finalist Dom Chambers makes his Fringe debut with the magically titled Fake Wizard.

Chris Turner: Rap God

If you want to see a show with a highly intelligent, quick-witted comedy improv rapper in which all his people from the front to the back nod, look no further than Chris Turner: Ra…

Spontaneous Potter: The Unofficial Improvised Parody

Edinburgh Fringe is usually teeming with high-end improv shows to choose from, but pickings this year are, unsurprisingly, slim.

Tues Night @ Social Club

Tues Night @ Social Club is one of those 'Marmite' shows that some people would consider their worst nightmare, while others could consider it tailor-made for them.

Police Cops: Badass Be Thy Name

For regular fringegoers this year, there are markedly few of the regular staple performers returning to contribute to the semblance of normality the festival is offering up.

A Highly Suspect Murder Mystery

Highly Suspect is a highly novel theatrical experience in which four actors take on the roles of supporting players from the Sherlock Holmes stories - Watson, Le Strade, Mycroft an…

Dirty Tricks: How the Illusionati Rule the World

Review
★★★
Victor Black
Camden Fringe
Canal Cafe Theatre / Hen & Chickens Theatre
14th Aug, 2021

The Great Baldini sets the stage excellently for his show, greeting each audience member at the door, and asking their name, which he will repeat when he invites them to volunteer …

Agent November's "Major X Ploe-Shun": OUTDOOR Escape Game

An outdoor theatrical escape room as a fringe show is pretty much a dream tagline for me, and for many others across the country too, I'm quite sure.

Heaven Knows I'm Friz Frizzle Now

Friz Frizzle, the self-proclaimed ‘Song-Ruiner’ has a dream: to ruin your childhoods by bastardising well known songs that you grew up with.

Comedy Hypnotist and Mentalist Mark Knight

Mark Knight had the honour of performing to a packed-out room, clearly up for a fun Friday night of Mind Reading and Hypnosis – any Edinburgh performer’s dream scenario.

MC Hammersmith's Magical Freestyle Factory!

Will Naameh is one of Edinburgh’s most talented and unique improvisers, although you’d be forgiven if you’ve not heard of him before.

Chain of Trivia

BBC radio music aficionado Russell Clarke is making his Edinburgh Fringe debut in a show jam-packed with fascinating rock ‘n’ roll trivia and random connections between the sta…

Mat Ricardo's Varieties

The word ‘legend’ is bandied about a bit too much these days.

Ben Hart: The Nutshell

Review
★★★★★
Victor Black
Edinburgh Fringe
Gilded Balloon at the Museum / Gilded Balloon Teviot
13th Aug, 2019

Fresh off becoming a household name through finishing third in this year's Britain's Got Talent, Ben Hart capitalises on his momentum by returning to the festival where he …

The Hypnotist – Live and Outrageous

Review
★★★
Victor Black
Edinburgh Fringe
PBH’s Free Fringe @ Liquid Room Annexe/Warehouse
8th Aug, 2019

Robert Temple is performing the only traditional hour-long hypnosis show in Edinburgh Fringe this year, so if you’re looking for a show where any number of people can volunteer t…

Stealth Aspies – Aspies Anonymous

Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a beacon of individuality for our time: it presents a platform for anybody with the desire to express themselves and whatever makes them individuals.

James Freedman: Moment of Truth

In Moment of Truth, James Freedman opens with an air of mystery.

Dave Bibby: Crazy Cat Lad-y

Dave Bibby is a multi-talented comedian who crosses into many genres, and his award nominated show (for its poster design) Crazy Cat Lad-y is something of a one-man variety perform…

Idris Stanton – Wham Glam Circus Man!

Review
★★★★
Victor Black
Edinburgh Fringe
PBH’s Free Fringe @ Liquid Room Annexe/Warehouse
11th Aug, 2019

If you’re a parent looking for a show that you can enjoy as much as your children, you may be looking quite hard.

#Dave Alnwick: Literally the Best Magician

Dave Alnwick, a veteran of the Edinburgh Fringe magic circuit, is one of the more visually striking performers you're likely to see here.

Cabaret of Curiosities

Tatwood Puppets make their Edinburgh Fringe debut with the perfectly titled Cabaret of Curiosities.

#Dave Alnwick: Actual Magic

Dave Alnwick is a true magician’s magician, with many strings to his bow.

Robin Boot's Rockomedy: Punderstruck

A rock guitar-playing punsmith may sound like it has a niche appeal to a certain type of Fringegoer, but Robin Boot’s early afternoon show in Whistlebinkies managed to pull in a …

Charlie Caper – Sleight of Hand

Review
★★★★
Victor Black
Edinburgh Fringe
PBH’s Free Fringe @ Liquid Room Annexe/Warehouse
6th Aug, 2019

If you were to ask every magician performing at Edinburgh Fringe who their favourite magician performing at Edinburgh Fringe is, you could expect the majority of them to respond in…

The Rude Awakening: Sex, Shame and Liberation

Amber Topaz, the inaugural Miss Burlesque UK, brings Edinburgh Fringe a burlesqueless theatrical cabaret experience that is personal, informative, and inclusive.

The Creative Martyrs: Kabarett DysUtopia

Review
★★★★
Victor Black
Edinburgh Fringe
PBH’s Free Fringe @ Fingers Piano Bar / PBH’s Free Fringe @ Voodoo Rooms
17th Aug, 2019

The term ‘cabaret’ is harder to pin down than the other show categories for Edinburgh Fringe.

Singalonga Pub Quiz

When I walked in to a packed out Finger’s Piano Bar I was greeted with the site of Mister Meredith affably talking to his punters, handing out paper and pens personally, and esta…

I Predict a Wyatt!

Sam Wyatt is an ambitious stand-up comedian who has taken a novel approach to this year’s festival, in designing a live gameshow with uniquely imaginative rounds.

An Evening Without Kate Bush

Sarah-Louise Young is one of Edinburgh Fringe's most respected and sought after musical variety performers, and it's no stretch of the imagination to see why, as she delive…

The Two Magicians with Kane & Abel

Review
★★★★
Victor Black
Edinburgh Fringe
PBH’s Free Fringe @ Liquid Room Annexe/Warehouse
13th Aug, 2019

Edinburgh Fringe's premier magical twins, Kane and Abel, return for their sixth run here in their regular home as the flagship magicians of PBH's Free Fringe venue the Liqu…

Chris Read: Little Man

Chris Read is a talented singer-songwriter performing his debut solo hour at the Fringe this year.

Chris Cook: Consequences

The Edinburgh Fringe is the world’s greatest hub for creativity, and many of the world’s top performers congregate here year after year.

Hetaira: A Mythic Cabaret

More of a personal theatrical experience than what one might expect from a show described as ‘cabaret’, Allie Jessing’s Hetaira: A Mythic Cabaret sees the talented actress de…

Frank Sanazi – Ocean's Nein

With a blast of Darth Vader’s Imperial March, the tone is set before Pete Cunningham’s highly celebrated alter ego, the cult smash and ‘King of Dark Cabaret’, Frank Sanazi …

Paul Zenon: Trust Me!

Paul Zenon is one of the UK’s most beloved and sought-after magicians – a veteran of TV shows, corporate events, and high end cabaret, as well as becoming a regular guest on th…

Faulty Towers the Dining Experience

The Faulty Towers Dining Experience boasts that they have recently served their one millionth customer worldwide, and with an experience this hilarious, engaging and insulting, it�…

Rob Deering's Beat This

Were you to design a concept for a show that ticks all the boxes from your wildest fantasies, if any festival in the world could fulfil your wishes, it’s Edinburgh Fringe.

Alan Shed's Music, Comedy and Everything Else Interactive Quiz Show

If you’re looking for fun and interactive quiz formats that work well as hour long Edinburgh Fringe shows, then pickings are comparatively slim.

Melinda Hughes: Off the Scale

Melinda Hughes is a prodigious cabaret vocalist and political satirist who brings her new show Off The Scale to this year’s Fringe, backed by a wonderful three-piece band.

Luke Jermay: Strange Power

You’ll be forgiven if you’ve not heard of Luke Jermay before, but within the Magic and Mind Reading communities he is a well respected and accomplished performer, a prolific wr…

SK Shlomo: Surrender

Very few of Edinburgh Fringe’s 4,000+ shows this year are able to boast being incomparable to all others.

Harry Baker: I Am 10,000

Review
★★★★
Victor Black
Edinburgh Fringe
Underbelly, Bristo Square / Underbelly, Cowgate
6th Aug, 2019

If a show combining maths, poetry, comedy and rap sounds like it may be up your street, then boy, oh boy, do I have a show for you?! The youngest ever World Slam Poetry champion, H…

Feature
Victor Black
Edinburgh Fringe
8th Aug, 2023

This Edinburgh Fringe sees the debut solo hour for impressionist legend Jon Culshaw.

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