Vlad Ilich – The Immortal Game 4.5****

Do you play chess? Can you remember what all the pieces are called and how they move? Vlad Ilich, North Macedonias most famous export, after Alexander the Great and Mother Theresa, will take you on a checkerboard journey on how … Read More

Deage Paxton – Inappropriate 4****

Brazen, bizarre, and at times brilliant — imagine Adam Sandler transplanted into a Geordie vessel and set loose on a stage.

Newcastle’s Deage Paxton is one of this year’s surprise packages. If you don’t know him yet, you should. He … Read More

KC Shornima: Detachment Style 4****

There’s something bubbling at the Pleasance this year. A sense that you’re watching a comic not just arriving, but arriving fully formed. KC Shornima—29, currently writing for SNL, and making her Fringe debut—is not just doing stand-up. She’s doing it … Read More

Stephen Buchanan: Cold Meat 4****

Scotland’s quiet king of crafted comedy returns smarter and sharper.

There’s a likeable precision to Stephen Buchanan that sets him apart from the moment he walks onstage. No flailing, no mugging, no filler theatrics — just calm command and the … Read More

Grace Mulvey: Did You Hear We’re All Going to Die? – 4****

Irish gallows humour for the beaten generation.

Grace Mulvey blends millennial existential dread with stand-up that never feels preachy or performative — a rare feat in the age of overshare comedy. She bounds onstage like a warm hug in good … Read More

Ayo Adenekan – Black Mediocrity 4****

File under: charisma, craft, and the comedy of considered belonging.

At just 23, Edinburgh-based Ayo Adenekan doesn’t so much step onstage as arrive — statuesque at 6ft 3in, effortlessly composed, and instantly magnetic. And within minutes, it becomes clear that … Read More

Lord of the Zings: A Kiwi Comedy Showcase 3.5***

When I saw the listing, this one jumped out at me given I’m a big Lord of the Rings fan and I was looking forward to the main theme being a comedy version of the blockbuster film franchise, even the … Read More

Ian Stone Is Looking for the Wow 5*****

The Fringe has not officially started yet shows, are up and running in many venues and the audiences are building, and yes even the weather is good. All of which is helping Ian Stone in his search for the , … Read More

Zara Gladman is…Aileen: Cameron’s Gap Year Fundraiser 4****1/2

Outstanding. Sketch comedy with bite, brilliance and just the right amount of bile.

At a time when sketch comedy is being flattened into algorithm-chasing improv and tossed-off TikToks, Zara Gladman delivers something almost radical: care, craft, and scalpel-sharp satire. This … Read More

The Greatest Magic Show – 5*****

If you want an absolutely safe banker for a kids show that throws in a free wand, this is it. It takes a fair bit of confidence to call your show The Greatest Magic Show, but within minutes, it’s clear … Read More