one4review | On 09, Aug 2025

Cabin Fever delivers an enjoyable and high-energy hour of airborne comedy. Playing to a full house – and with next week already sold out on the back of last year’s success – Aurelia Harris-Johnstone and Beth Miles keep the laughs cruising at a steady altitude.

Between them, they portray the cabin crew and a lively array of passengers, each seated in pairs, giving the show its structure – a rapid-fire sequence of two-hander sketches. From overly chatty neighbours to awkward strangers and self-absorbed travellers, the performers slip between characters with impressive agility. Not every sketch lands equally – some characters soar, while others feel like quick stopovers – but the sheer pace keeps things moving. At times, the rapid switches can make it tricky to keep track of who’s who, yet this barely dents the overall enjoyment.

What is most striking about this piece of theatre is the energy. Both performers bring infectious enthusiasm, physicality, and sharp comic timing, making even the more grounded moments fizz. The humour is balanced with an affectionate nod to the quirks and frustrations of modern air travel, giving the audience a sense that we’re all passengers on this ridiculous, relatable journey.

In the end, Cabin Fever is exactly the kind of spirited, inventive, and quick-witted theatre that thrives at the Fringe, and I would recommend trying to get hold of one of the few remaining tickets in the final week.

****

Reviewed by Howard

theSpace@Symposium Hall, Annexe

13.05 to 13.55

Until 23rd August