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Five outstanding EdFringe shows scoop a Broadway Baby Bobby in 2023
  • By Pete Shaw
  • |
  • 25th Aug 2023
  • |
  • Edinburgh Fringe

A coveted Bobby has been presented to five shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year. Circus, magic, new writing, LGBT+ themes and even biographical theatre feature in the diverse line up that caught our judges’ collective eyes.

The Bobby Award seeks out those shows that shine even amongst the best rated of the Fringe

Fashioned after the iconic Greyfriar’s Bobby, our golden statuette is reserved for the very best of the best, because in a festival of over 3,500 shows there are a lot of five-star shows. We present only a handful every year; so a Bobby really does mean something.

Our first recipient of 2023 was Early Morning Productions who brought a technology-rich telling of Steve Jobs’ life to Paradise in the Vault called Apple Of My Eye. Written by Joel Goodman and starring Stephen Smith, our reviewer, Ewan Woods, described it as “a wonderful love letter to the development of one of the most important computer forces in history”.

Kate Copstick managed to slip out of her comedy-reviewing duties for The Scotsman long enough to catch Poof! at the Gilded Balloon Teviot, and she simply fell in love. Copstick rounded up her review of Celeste Lecesne’s LGBT+ themed show by saying “Celeste Lecesne has all the stars I never gave, and the red pencil to make them matter the right way. Poof! may be the loveliest hour of your life.”

Cabaret and Variety expert Frodo Allan has over 20 year experience creating the genre, and over a decade writing reviews about it for Broadway Baby, so when something impresses him, you know it’s going to be good. It was N.Ormes at Assembly Roxy that caused Frodo to describe it “like something out of a dream”. Montreal-based circus duo Agathe Bisserier and Adrien Malette-Chenier have smashed the Fringe on their first time here.

Scottish illusionist and America’s Got Talent semi-finalist, Colin Cloud had our Comedy Editor, James Macfarlane, astonished during his week-long run of After Dark at Underbelly. James said “After Dark is a triumph of the highest order. For the next few nights, Colin Cloud will be the hottest ticket in town. His passion, honesty, vulnerability, showmanship and humour are on full display during this jaw-droppingly clever hour.”

Finally our Editor-in-Chief, Richard Beck, revisited a show he had seen at The Vaults Festival earlier in the year and found it to be just as spectacular. A Manchester Anthem which has been in Pleasance Courtyard for the month is new writing from Lyle Productions that Richard described it as “an unfettered outpouring of humour, storytelling and characterisation.”

And that, as they say, is a wrap for this year... unless we spot something spectacular this weekend! The hunt for winners of the craved golden canine goes on.

Related Listings

Poof!
BOBBY WINNER

Poof!

There is wonder here in Edinburgh, and it is being ignored. 

Apple of My Eye
BOBBY WINNER

Apple of My Eye

Attempting to retell the story of someone as iconic of the modern age as Steve Jobs will naturally present a challenge, particularly as books and films have combed over every aspec… 

A Manchester Anthem
BOBBY WINNER

A Manchester Anthem

Making its Fringe debut after winning VAULT Festival ‘Show Of The Week Award’ and Pleasance ‘Pick of the VAULT Award’, Manchester Anthem has been restaged from the linear L… 

N.Ormes
BOBBY WINNER

N.Ormes

Starting with a single spotlight shining down like a streetlamp on a romantic Parisian street we see a man and a woman slowly dance in an intimate embrace. 

Colin Cloud: After Dark
BOBBY WINNER

Colin Cloud: After Dark

Let’s just get this out the way: Colin Cloud’s After Dark is the most powerful, impressive and poignant magic and mentalist show I’ve ever seen. 

Since you’re here…

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Mama Biashara
Kate Copstick’s charity, Mama Biashara, works with the poorest and most marginalised people in Kenya. They give grants to set up small, sustainable businesses that bring financial independence and security. That five quid you spend on a large glass of House White? They can save someone’s life with that. And the money for a pair of Air Jordans? Will take four women and their fifteen children away from a man who is raping them and into a new life with a moneymaking business for Mum and happiness for the kids.
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