one4review | On 10, Aug 2026

With a premise of “there are some policemen who are part-helicopter” (indicated by them wearing cycle helmets with propellor blades) and when your narrator is the building that houses their headquarters you know that you are not coming to Stolen Table Collective’s latest offering this Fringe to see a sensible show.

And Helicops 1: Find Your Wings is definitely not a sensible show, it is very, very silly. But fortunately it’s also very, very fun and completely manages to stick the landing (like a helicopter).

The plot of veteran Helicop Rotary training up his new partner Ace (who might also be his estranged son), while also investigating/avenging his previous partner’s murder, while he’s also only one hour from retirement is a perfect framework on which to hang all manner of daft jokes and general messing about from silly costumes to sillier voices. Of particular note was when the audience were encouraged to pelt the performers with miniature rubber ducks numerous times, something that only got funnier and funnier the more we did it.

While the show may lack a certain amount of polish, that’s more a benefit than a hindrance. The sheer joy and fun the performers have is infectious and it feels like the audience is being invited to play along with the nonsense as much as those on stage. It feels like the sort of messing about with your friends at school that would leave you crying with laughter and potentially that’s not for everyone, but it sure tickled me.

Having previously found critical successes with their previous shows Bot Brothers and Pasta Piñata, I’m looking forward to seeing more from this trio of talented performers and hope that next time they’ll be able to accommodate a lengthier run, as at only 5 days, it feels like there’s not been enough time for them to build up the momentum they deserve.

****

Reviewed by Tom

16:05 (1 hour)

7-11th

The Crate at Assembly George Square