one4review | On 07, Aug 2025

It was at the point when a group of people in morph suits with baseball caps and gold chains were rave dancing while a man did some impeccable spins on his roller-skates as the crowd sang along to a song by Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap that I realised that Stamptown might not be the show for me. But by that point it was too late. Also, we were only five minutes in.

Hailed as one of the premier variety nights of the Fringe, sold out from 2017-2024, Stamptown is the epitome of high-energy late night cabaret entertainment. Hosted by “the bad boy of clown”, Zach Zucker the show featured a mix of dance, standup, burlesque, character comedy as well as general anarchic messing around.

It would be safe to say that even if you know what you’re in for, the show will still find ways to surprise you. Zucker and his team have the sort of control over the action that you have when chasing a cheese rolling down a hill, with the distinct impression it’s only a matter of time before you trip and gravity takes over.

As a genteel nerdy boy, the show was almost a complete anathema to me. I described Zucker’s opening routine to a friend as “like putting my head into a beehive while two New York shock jocks pointed and laughed at me” but it is completely undeniable that the crowd absolutely loved it. Afterwards I heard groups hailing it as the best show of the fringe and others saying they wished they lived in Stamptown all year long. For me, I felt like it was trying to give me a seizure but, well, in a nice way.

So, it’s a bit like a tequila shot – not for everyone (and certainly not me!) but as long as you can handle the acquired taste, you’re in for a blast.

****

Reviewed by Tom

Pleasance Courtyard – Beyond

23.30 (1hr 30mins)

Until 23 Aug (not 12 or 17)