Stuart McPherson – Crisps and a Lie Down 4****

Stuart McPherson is a well-established name on the comedy scene and a successful one too. He opens with that he is early 30, a wife and a child. Well, sorta, he has a partner, like him, she is a stand-up, … Read More

Jena Friedman- Motherf*cker 4****

American Writer/Performer Jena Friedman combines patriotism with humour and grief in this up and down show that has you laughing one minute and almost crying the next. With some risky punchlines at times, you don’t know what to expect next.

… Read More

Ashley Haden Presents Crosswords 4****

Let’s be real: asking comedians to shackle themselves to a crossword puzzle is a bit like herding cats—adorable, chaotic, and guaranteed to go spectacularly sideways. Too often, the result is a desperate band of comics clinging to old punchlines like … Read More

Eli Matthewson: Night Terror 3.5***

For his 2025 Fringe show, Kiwi comic Eli Matthewson tells all about the time in 2023 that his boyfriend tried to kill him in his sleep. Despite how this may sound, this isn’t some sort of true crime comedy … Read More

Sharon Wanjohi: In the House 3.5***

Sharon Wanjohi has written a self-help book – in her debut Fringe show, she shares some pearls of wisdom from it. An hour of delightfully entertaining chaos and complete silliness ensues.

While the show is arranged around this … Read More

Danny Ward – The Holiday 5*****

Wow, just wow! I’m sure most have seen the movie, The Holiday, or at least heard of it, well Danny Ward is on the credits because he actually worked on this ever popular film.

He may have had a small … Read More

Paul Williams: Don’t Look at Me 4****

It’s going to be Paul Williams’s year, at least according to the opening musical number of Don’t Look at Me. In fact, it has to be his year and the audience have to enjoy the show – lest they … Read More

40 Years of Fringe : Jenny Eclair 5*****

Gilded Balloon marks four decades at the festival with a series of special in-conversations featuring comedy greats. Tonight is comedian, novelist and actress Jenny Eclair.

Jenny is joined in conversation with Kaye Adams. This is a career which has spanned … Read More

Alison Spittle – Big 4.5 ****

I have seen Alison Spittle a couple of times live, and obviously a few times on TV, and have always enjoyed what I have seen, so along with may others packed in to see her latest offering. There was a … Read More

Emma Holland: Don’t Touch My Trinkets 4****

Fresh from competing in an antipodean season of Taskmaster, Holland is back and fame hasn’t marred her bubbly, perky and very funny style. All the good bits from Holland’s previous Fringe show remain, but amplified and polished. The art’s still … Read More