Shows at Gilded Balloon

Studio 9

These two punchy Cambridge Footlighters prove their worth as a hilarious addition to the British comedy double-act scene in their new sketch show Studio 9.

The Sea Child

The Sea Child, adapted by Carolyn Sloan from her novel of the same name, is a tender and evocative play.

Barry Cryer and Ronnie Golden – Old Masters

How can you review Barry Cryer? He’s a British comedy legend, practically an institution.

E15

Explosive from start to finish, E15 is verbatim theatre at its most exciting.

Tommy Tiernan Alive in Edinburgh

Before he took to the stage, Tommy Tiernan took in some shows around Edinburgh.

Vanity Bites Back

Vanity Bites Back is a clown show about anorexia.

The Horne Section's Questions Sessions

Imagine a quiz show accompanied by a live band.

Buzzology

What better combination is there for a feel-good show than a group of men singing a cappella Britney and a book of alpaca facts? London-based singers and all-round fun guys, the Bu…

The Sons of Pitches

The Sons of Pitches took the Fringe by storm last year.

Christian O'Connell: You've Ruined My Morning... and Other Fan Mail

Many people will of course know Christian O’Connell from presenting the Absolute Radio Breakfast Show of which he has been doing now for over 10 years and in his time on the stat…

Funmbi Omotayo: Legal Immigrant

It’s hard not to like Funmbi Omotayo.

Satan Speaks: 'Why I Don't Exist' A TED-ish Talk

According to Baudelaire, the greatest trick that the devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he didn’t exist.

Twisted Cabaret

Word of advice: the four stars you see here are only for the brave at heart.

Victoria Wood + Me

A deep familiarity with the beloved UK television star portrayed in the warm and witty solo comedy Victoria Wood + ME isn’t necessary to enjoy the vibrant impersonation of her by…

Derby Day

There’s a whole lot going on in Derby Day.

Bec Hill: Caught On Tape

Creating a show focusing on the idea of regret is frankly an extremely brave one: regret be an extremely sad and prickly topic, something which Hill alludes to in the first five mi…

Willie and Sebastian

Expectations were high in a crowded Dining Room at the old Gilded Balloon, with a profusion of Scottish media lending support or checking out the latest and most challenging new wo…

Morro and Jasp Do Puberty

Jetting in from Toronto come clown sisters Morro and Jasp, masters of their craft and hilarious to boot.

Jeff Green: Happiness

Jeff Green wastes no time in getting to the meaning behind the title, asking the ever-relevant question “What am I doing with my life?” Surely at 50, Green knows what he wants …

Allie

Ruaraidh Murray’s new play is a solid - though far from stunning - tale of a marriage turned very sour.

Minor Delays

Those little things that hold you back, awkward pauses and abashed hesitations of everyday life: the focus of Minor Delays.

WOMANz: Jou're Welcome

Everyone has that one persistently irritating friend.

Diane Spencer: Power Tool

Fringe shows based on the last twelve months of a comic’s life are not uncommon.

Angel in the Abattoir

Dave Florez’s new play Angel in the Abattoir questions the role and even the possibility of the modern hero.

Sparrow-Folk: SuBIRDia

Sparrow-Folk are Catherine Crowley and Juliet Moody - a female comedy duo who hail from Canberra, Australia.

Lisa Gornick's Live Drawing Show

Lisa Gornick’s Live Drawing Show opens with an interesting and inventive premise: using the aid of drawing in real time to tell a story.

Will Durst: BoomeRaging From LSD to OMG

According to the press release, this year’s show is Will Durst’s “highly anticipated return to the Fringe after over a decade.

Adrienne Truscott's A One-Trick Pony!

One Trick Pony is the follow up to the critically acclaimed mouthful of a fringe show, Adrienne Truscott’s Asking For It: A One-Lady Rape About Comedy Starring Her Pussy and Little…

Mark Forward presents Mark Forward

‘I could tell you anything I want and you would have to believe it!’ yells Mark Forward about twenty minutes into his show, as an invisible falcon perches on his arm.

The Bad Arm: Confessions of a Dodgy Irish Dancer

Out she comes, toes pointed, slim legs scissoring the air, arms pressed stiffly to her sides.

Funny Bones Trash

Embracing all the great theatrical traditions of silent comedy and vaudeville, Funny Bones Trash is the best kind of children’s show.

Plague of Idiots

If you are looking for the silliest Shakespeare at the Fringe, look no further.

What Would Spock Do?

What Would Spock Do? is a well-packaged and lovingly-written show held back from greatness only by a loss of potential emotional depth.

Aidan Strangeman: Horsey

This is a beautifully funny, and, in parts, heart-wrenchingly honest performance.

Alex Williamson: That Guy from the Internet

Alex Williamson possesses the confidence and charisma necessary for performing for large crowds, a man who grasps the essence of comedy with a promising career ahead of him.

Wasted

Emma (Serena Jennings) and Oli (Will Merrick) meet on a chaotic, booze-fuelled night out.

Get Your Own Back: Live!

As the bombastic theme tune starts playing, waves of nostalgia roll across the audience.

Aisling Bea: Plan Bea

As you walk into Aisling Bea: Plan Bea you’ll see a morph suit, dancing frantically in what can only be described as unbearable heat.

Amy Howerska: Sasspot

Reviews have to be written in the context of the cost of the ticket, and while Amy Howerska’s debut stand-up hour is by no means bad per se, it never quite rises to a level high …

Lucie Pohl: Cry Me a Liver

When you boast a cast of characters as diverse as Lucie Pohl’s new act it’s no surprise when the results are so mixed.

Tar Baby

Tar Baby is a show caught between two worlds, comedy and drama, poignant and silly, white and black.

I Would: A Hypothetical Sketch Show

This sketch show offers an hour of clean-cut and well-rehearsed comedy.

Winter is Coming. Again.

Winter Is Coming.

Sex Rated G

Advertised as ‘A One-Woman Play With A Man In’, I had preconceptions about this show that involved transgender, cross-dressing, and insightful anecdotes about sexual orientatio…

Abigoliah Schamaun: Post-Coital Confessions

Post-coitus: it’s that intimate moment of openness, where people say weird, wonderful and often brutally honest things.

Echoes by Henry Naylor

Two women on a stage: one in a black gown, one in a white gown; a modern day schoolgirl jihadi and a Victorian intellectual.

Jonny Awsum: Everything is Awsum

Using only the bare essentials of a guitar, some toy instruments, and a few lighting changes, Jonny Awsum delivers an hour of musical comedy with plenty of laughs and the sort of t…

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck’s classic novella Of Mice and Men chronicles the unlikely and touching friendship between two ranch workers in pursuit of the American Dream during the Great Depre…

Diary of a Dating Addict

‘Finding a partner’s like finding a job: you’ve got to put the work in’, says Maddy Anholt, and she would know.

Will Seaward Has a Really Good Go at Alchemy

Will Seaward Has a Really Good Go at Alchemy is probably unlike anything you will have ever seen.

Bump

When two particles collide – or bump together – they are forever marked by each other: inseparable, unified, joined at the hip, like star-crossed lovers whose destinies are hen…

Ray Bradshaw: I Dare Ray to...

Ray Bradshaw is like a mate from home who’s gone on to make it big: he would look equally comfortable spinning comedic tales onstage and with a pint in his hand, laughing about s…

Patrick Monahan – The Disco Years

Patrick Monahan likes to boogie.

Confessions of a Redheaded Coffeeshop Girl

Joanie Little is an honest, open and kookily sexy waitress working in Gabe’s Coffee Shop in Toronto.

Croft & Pearce – There's Always Something

Returning to the Fringe with another slice of slickly made sketch comedy, Hannah Croft and Fiona Pearce once more impress with cleverly structured and impeccably acted comic vignet…

George Egg: Anarchist Cook

George Egg has twenty years experience on the comedy circuit.

The Cuban Brothers

‘I took him to pumpin’ school, for the guys who are not so good with the chicas’ says Cuban Brothers’ frontman Miguel Mantovani of his newest and shyest member of the team,…

Kiss Me Honey, Honey!

Kiss Me Honey Honey! appears to be attracting a decidedly local crowd of middle-aged women, at least if this performance is anything to go by.

Not Just a Funny Turn

It was a shock just sitting down in the Stroke Association Scotland’s venue - on every seat was a leaflet telling us that one in six people in Scotland will suffer a stroke in thei…

Welcome to Terezin

It’s 1944 and the Red Cross have finally been permitted to visit Terezín, an internment camp for artistic Jews in Czechoslovakia.

Nathan Penlington: Choose Your Own Documentary

This is a surprisingly intimate glimpse into the inner world of multimedia artist Nathan Penlington, with plenty of exciting decisions along the way.

Greg Proops: The Smartest Man in the World

Proops greets every guest that enters the theatre with a personal handshake, a touch that shocked and pleased the audience.

Bacchanalia

At Bacchanalia, there are no rules, no inhibitions and certainly no curfew.

Bey Dance Workshop

Whenever I watch a Beyoncé music video and her incredible dance routines, all I can think is ‘No normal person can move their body like that.

Barry Cryer and Colin Sell: Twittering On

Fans of Barry Cryer – and there are legions of them – will adore this rambling stream-of-consciousness comedy show about nothing in particular.

Voices in Your Head

With so much improvised comedy coming to Edinburgh every year, it’s important to create a formula for a show that allows it to stand out from the crowd.

Umbilical Brothers: KiDSHoW (not for kids)

If the Umbilical Brothers were part of your upbringing, you probably would have repressed it.

So You Think You're Funny?

The Gilded Balloon’s So You Think You’re Funny is a comedy omnibus and competition, offering little showcase slots for Fringe veterans and newcomers.

Mark Nelson: Please Think Responsibly

Mark Nelson instantly puts me at ease as he bounds onstage.

Scotland Stands Up

Scotland Stands Up is a very well meaning concept for a late night show: one where in the bustle of the biggest international arts festival, Scottish stand up comedians have a chan…

Pentimento

One of the perils of confessional theatre is that you may end up paying to witness someone airing their dirty laundry.

Baba Brinkman - The Rap Guide to Religion

The bringing together of incongruous generic and thematic elements (my favourite being Bereavement: The Musical) is nothing new.

Juliette Burton: Look at Me

Juliette Burton: Look at Me is not entirely what I would call a comedy.

The Time of Our Lies - The Life and Times of Howard Zinn

A visceral performance, The Time of Our Lies benefits greatly from the impassioned commitment of its five-strong cast.

Fall Girl

Sitting in the Comedy section of the Fringe guide, this is a quirky piece of storytelling theatre by new company Five Wits and starring last year’s So You Think You Write Funny …

Croft & Pearce: Give and Take

Making their way north for the fourth year on the trot, Croft and Pearce have brought us their best show yet.

Gordon Southern: Your New Favourite Comedian

Gordon Southern is eager for his tenth solo show to take off with a bang and he certainly gets off to a great start.

Outings

Coming out is a life-changing experience.

Cal Wilson: It Could Have Been Me

Kiwi comedian Cal Wilson invites us to imagine what her life would have been like if she’d made different choices (or if she’d been born a man).

Stephen Bailey: Neon Heart

Stephen Bailey—all silver dickie bow tie, floral grey suit and camp demeanour—is clearly in love with love and romance.

Justin Moorhouse: This is What I Am

Justin Moorhouse sets to throw himself at the forefront of the industry through what he does best: funny, and occasionally hard hitting, truths about everyday life.

Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre - And So Am I

Since forming in 2005 in Aberdeen, the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre have performed internationally and on television around the UK.

Winter Is Coming

Winter Is Coming is a ludicrous take on the popular TV series, Game of Thrones.

Kai Humphries: Stuff Protocol

Many will be thrilled to see that the infectiously funny Kai Humphries is back at the Fringe with his new show Stuff Protocol.

Patrick Monahan: Adventures in Monahan Land

Before the show had even began, I overheard a young man in the front row say ‘I can’t sit here, he’ll pick me!’ Fans of Patrick Monahan know what’s coming- and to be sure…

Cutting Off Kate Bush

Lucy Benson-Brown’s one woman show explores mid-to-late twenties inertia, family values and how we pin hopes and philosophies on the tunes of our favourite musical artists.

Katie Mulgrew: Happily Ever After

Katie Mulgrew’s show about Disney Princesses is exceedingly well suited to her venue, The Turret at Gilded Balloon.

Alex Williamson: Dumb Things I've Done

Alex Williamson is energetic.

Kevin Day: Standy Uppy

Kevin Day begins his act with a long, cautious introduction, letting us know what is to come.

Echolalia

Echolalia is a type of autism where sufferers automatically repeat the words and phrases of others.

The Oxford Imps: Pun and Games

You can never predict what’s going to happen next when it comes to the Oxford Imps – and that’s precisely what makes their show such a great success.

Boxman

Boxman, the eponymous star of this one man show, is a lad, no doubt about it.

Jonny Awsum: Sexy Noises

There are some shows which instantly give you a good vibe and this is one of them.

Milo McCabe: Troy Hawke

Milo McCabe’s latest comic incarnation is quite superb.

Gamarjobat: Boxer

To celebrate their tenth year at the Fringe Japanese comedy duo Gamarjobat have reprised their debut show Gamarjobat: Boxer.

Bec and Tom's Awesome Laundry

As the audience files in to Bec and Tom’s Awesome Laundry, the two leads are on stage blowing bubbles and playing a game to see how far into the venue they can float the soapy sp…

Lucie Pohl: Hi, Hitler

Lucie Pohl is an enigma and a clever one to boot.

Bec Hill in... Ellipsis

Bec Hill is packing positivity to the hilt.

James Veitch: The Fundamental Interconnectedness of Everyone with an Internet Connection

60% of emails sent are spam, and James Veitch turns this cyber curse into a comic blessing.

Old Jewish Jokes

Ivor Dembina cut his teeth on the alternative comedy circuit with original material, so I was surprised to discover him performing a show called Old Jewish Jokes for the third y…

Abigoliah Schamaun: It's Pronounced Abigoliah Schamaun

Abigoliah Schamaun has been painted as caustic, controversial and not for the faint of heart.

Black is the Color of My Voice

Apphia Campbell brings an all-encompassing presence to the stage during this solo performance.

Aunty Donna

Aunty Donna are an Australian three-piece bringing 60 minutes of fast-paced, filthy, contemporary-reference-heavy comedy to The Gilded Balloon.

Wendy Wason: Hotel California

One of the most enjoyable things about the festival is watching a good staple comic; someone who has honed their craft, knows how to play it and gives what everyone is looking for,…

Sonics in Duum

As one of many circus shows visiting Edinburgh this month, Sonics in Duum has some pretty stiff competition.

Laika: A Space Dogyssey

One of the best things about the Fringe is the energy and ingenuity of the young companies performing here and these are both words that apply perfectly to Double Edge Drama, creat…

Titty Bar Ha Ha: Hard Time

Saucy hostesses Hope and Gloria are back with Titty Bar Ha Ha: Hard Time, following on from their show at last year’s Fringe.

Tom Rhodes: Colossus

After a brief guest spot where he received a less than warm welcome by a vocally anti-American audience in 1999, Tom Rhodes is back in Edinburgh for his solo festival debut.

Angry Young Women in Low Rise Jeans with High Class Issues

It is possible to do feminist comedy very, very well.

Andrew Ryan: The Life of Ryan

Andrew Ryan’s show this year sees him look at where he is in his life, how he got here and how he’s enjoying it - or not enjoying it, as the case may be.

Julie Burchill: Absolute Cult

For those familiar with the actual Julie Birchill, literary wunderkind and hedonistic hellraiser, the content of Tim Fountain and Mike Bradwell’s play will contain few surprises …

Circumcise Me

Yisrael Campbell is just your average Irish, Italian, Catholic, American, recovering alcoholic, Reform Jew, Conservative Jew, Orthodox Jew, husband, father of four, comedian.

The Axis of Awesome: Viva La Vida Loca Las Vegas

The title of this show is not nearly the best thing about it, but it alone should be enough to send you scurrying straight to the box office.

Demi Lardner: Birds with Human Lips

As a recipient of the Gilded Balloon’s So You Think You’re Funny? Award Demi Lardner belongs to an elite group of comedy talent.

Staple/face are... Going Down Fighting

Staple/face are a young sketch group, something they don’t shy away from.

Minor Delays

Minor Delays can be described as simple but tremendously effective.

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical

No one expects to watch a musical set in a dog parlour with a canine duel – or, more precisely, ‘The Amazing New York State Poodle Fighting Championship’ – as its climax.

Will Seaward's Spooky Midnight Ghost Stories!

On a dark and stormy night at the Fringe, Will Seaward’s Spooky Midnight Ghost Stories will warm your cockles rather than chill you to the bone.

I am, I am

Clever, funny and adorably weird, Harry Mitchell and Lowell Belfield, otherwise known as I am, I am, are already one of this year’s Fringe highlights.