one4review | On 20, Aug 2025

There’s a reason Showstopper! has become such a staple of the Fringe: it’s the gold standard of improvised musical theatre. Every performance is made up entirely on the spot, with the audience choosing the setting, style, and even some of the key plot points. What follows is a full-length musical that feels both polished and delightfully unpredictable.

This year’s outing delivered plenty of the magic we’ve come to expect. The cast are hugely talented — not just strong comic improvisers, but genuinely excellent singers and actors who can switch from heartfelt solos to witty group numbers in the blink of an eye. The live musicians deserve particular praise, matching the performers beat for beat and conjuring up songs that sound as if they’d been rehearsed for weeks rather than seconds.

The show we saw was consistently funny, with clever one-liners, silly characters, and set pieces that had the audience roaring. It’s suitable for older kids and adults alike, and there’s a real joy in watching a story emerge collectively from the chaos of suggestions.

That said, for me it didn’t quite hit the dizzy heights of last year’s edition — though that’s more a quirk of improv than a fault in itself. Some nights you strike gold, others you strike silver, and either way you’re in for an impressive spectacle.

Even on a slightly less dazzling evening, Showstopper! is still a masterclass in improvisation and one of the most reliably entertaining shows on the Fringe.

Reviewed by Claire and Nina

Grand at Pleasance Courtyard, 17.20 until August 24