40 Years of Fringe : Doon Mackichan and Kieran Hodgson 4****

Gilded Balloon marks four decades at the Fringe with a series of special in-conversations featuring comedy greats. Today Kieran Hodgson interviews fellow Two Doors Down star Doon Mackichan.

The show starts with Doon fully in character of Two Doors Down … Read More

Russell Hicks – WIP – 3.5***

I’ve been a fan of Russell Hicks and his brand of comedy for a while now, and watching his “Work in Progress” show was superb.  It gives a proper insight into how clever comedy is crafted into what will … Read More

Dylan Adler : Haus of Dy-Lan – 3.5***

“Haus of Dy-Lan” is so high energy that I felt I’d come out of an aerobics class.  Dylan Adlers show is a whirlwind of music, comedy and musical comedy, completely over the top and full of camp chaos.  He’s … Read More

Laura Lexx – Slinky 4****

Checking my records it is hard to believe that the last time I saw Laura Lexx was back in 2019 and a lot has happened in the interim.

Since then, she and her husband Tom have  bought a house just … Read More

Lulu Popplewell : Love Love 4****

Lulu enters the stage clutching a very cute little dog which she places in the care of a front row audience member. We are told that this is a therapy dog that has helped her cope with some recent struggles … Read More

NATE KITCH: Something Different!!!!! 4.5 stars

Meandering, clever, funny, with a little tenderness: Nate Kitch is an accomplished wordsmith whose natural warmth and mischievous humour fills the room with genuine laughter. The stage itself sets the tone – handcrafted notices (“laugh laugh,” “BLUR”), a Samuel Beckett … Read More

Absolutely (not) Free – An Evening of Zappa – 2**

Any kind of Zappa tribute should feel like a carnival of chaos – sharp wit, wild textures, and that unmistakable sonic mischief. What we got, down in the hot basement under the bridge, was closer to a blurred echo. Yes, … Read More

Grace Helbig : Let Me Get This Off My Chest 4****

Grace Helbig is an American comedian, actress and internet personality. She began her career as a YouTuber by creating a daily vlog of her house sitting experience. Beginning in 2008, she created Grace In A Box on her personal YouTube … Read More

Bec Hill – Guess Who’s Bec, Bec Again? Bec Hill’s Bec! (tell a Friend) 3***

After a six-year absence Bec Hill makes a long-awaited return to the Fringe. I would say with her new show, but she is at pains to tell us, even has it projected on a screen, ‘This is not a show’.

… Read More

Robin Grainger – People Pleaser 5*****

A year or two ago Robin Grainger played his Edinburgh show to one audient.  This caused him to be catapulted into the spotlight both nationally and internationally.

No such problem now, Grainger who has always been a top comic is … Read More