We asked the international award-winning comic hypnotist Matt Hale for an insight into his show Funbelievable! 90s Rewind, which goes against the standard image of the genre and is filled with what he sees as liberating silliness that will give you an energising laugh – and is designed not to change your life.
When you give people permission to be silly, you unlock something incredibly powerful
Let’s be honest: not every show at the Fringe has to solve the world’s problems. Don’t get me wrong – I love a powerful message or a meaningful takeaway as much as the next audience member, but sometimes… sometimes, you just want to laugh so hard your face hurts.
Sometimes, you just want to switch off your brain for an hour and surrender to sheer, unfiltered, unapologetic fun.
And that’s exactly what I’m bringing to this year’s Edinburgh Fringe with Funbelievable! 90s Rewind, my all-new 90s-themed comedy hypnosis show. It’s a full-throttle nostalgia ride packed with the biggest (and often cheesiest!) bangers of the decade, dodgy fashion throwbacks and the kind of pure silliness that reminds you why the 90s were so damn fun. There’s no political statement. No underlying metaphor. Just people doing bonkers things on stage and an audience loving every ridiculous second of it.
I set the tone from the very start. My shows aren’t what people typically expect from a hypnotist – no dark suits, swinging watches, dramatic whispers… and they always come with a 100% Chicken-Free Guarantee! Instead, it feels like a party from the second the lights go up. I usually burst on stage dancing like an idiot, getting the crowd singing, clapping and laughing before a single suggestion has even been made. I’m not afraid to look ridiculous – in fact, I embrace it. And it feels fantastic. I think when the audience sees me gleefully letting go, not giving a damn, they instinctively follow. The energy lifts, the guard comes down, and before you know it, we’re all on the same chaotic, joy-fuelled ride.
But here’s the thing: I truly believe that fun – real, no-holds-barred fun – is just as important as any deep and meaningful message. Maybe even more so, because when you give people permission to be silly, you unlock something incredibly powerful. You remind them that joy isn’t just for kids. It’s for all of us.
At the end of my show, I often remind the audience: “You don’t need hypnosis to feel this good. You just need to do something silly, something stupid, something fun – and that will make you feel fantastic.” Kids know this instinctively. Watch any child and you’ll see them make up games, pull faces, dance badly on purpose and laugh uncontrollably for no reason. They’re not doing it to impress anyone. They’re doing it because it feels good. Somewhere along the line, we forget that’s still an option.
But maybe people are catching on. I’ve absolutely loved seeing the rise of the modern clown at the Fringe. Zach Zucker's ever-growing StampTown is a prime example – on any one night you could see Dylan, Viggo Venn, Natalie Palamides all part of the joyful madness, playing to sold-out big room crowds. Likewise, acts like Garry Starr and Josh Glanc have been racking up the awards and nominations. All absolutely smashing it by embracing chaos, nonsense and play. They’re not afraid to be over-the-top ridiculous – and the result is usually an audience barely holding it together, grateful for a moment of genuine escape from the world outside. These shows are proof that you don’t need a complex narrative or a life lesson to be memorable. Sometimes, the sheer joy of watching someone commit 100 per cent to an utterly stupid idea is the most cathartic thing in the world.
We’ve all had a tough few years. The news cycle is exhausting. Life can feel overwhelming. But fun is still here. It’s waiting in the wings with its party hat on, ready to remind you what it’s like to laugh till your cheeks ache.
So, this Fringe, don’t be afraid to prioritise joy. Go and see the show that makes no sense. Applaud the performer who’s clearly lost their mind (in the best way). Say yes to the surreal, the bizarre and the downright stupid. Let yourself play. Let yourself laugh. Let yourself be silly. Because fun is not frivolous. It’s freeing. It’s healing. It’s essential. And if all else fails, come and join me for Funbelievable! 90s Rewind. I promise no deeper meaning, no life-changing epiphanies… just 60 minutes of full-throttle, feelgood, 90s-flavoured nonsense.
And honestly? That might be exactly what you need.
