one4review | On 14, Aug 2025

Mark Watson has been a formidable staple of the Edinburgh Fringe for two
decades, still happily performing at his longtime favourite venue:
Pleasance Courtyard, but now in Pleasance One, the original theatre.
And once again the audience are in for a treat, as true to form he
begins not onstage but with a genial wander through the theatre,
chatting in the amiably flustered way that has become his trademark.

This year’s show is a glorious meander, in classic Watson style, through
odd obsessions and everyday fears. He digs deep into the UK sausage
industry with the verve of a man enthused to be involved in a national
scandal, then swerves into tales of his fear of flying despite
meticulous attention to safety demos, recalling a thunderstorm flight
with an emergency landing – in equal parts frazzled, self-mocking and
absurd.

From there Mark switches to the relatable frustrations of Chatbot
customer service, the peculiarities of some WhatsApp messaging, and even
an AI-generated description of his stage persona that brought the most
appreciative laugh of the evening.

Mark’s delivery is as captivating as ever and there is some easygoing
audience chat, a callback or two, some playful detours, and the sense
that he too is unravelling the show’s content alongside you.  As always,
Watson’s combination of intellect, silliness, and genuine warmth makes
for an hour that feels personal, delightful and entirely worth not only
the ticket price but also braving the August crowds.

*****

Reviewed by HJ

Pleasance One

19.30 (1hr)

Until 24 Aug (not 18)