FRINGE REVIEW 2026: Round-Up 5!
- Mix Up Theatre (Stewart)
- 2 minutes ago
- 10 min read
Here's a quick final run-down of everything else we've caught at the festival so far...
Common Tongue
★★★★★
Theatre (Comedy, Solo Show)
Age 12+
14:45 - Netherbow Theatre at Scottish Storytelling Centre - until 31st August
Sarah - ★★★★1/2
"An outstanding look in to the Scots language and attitude towards it on a personal and wider scale. Fraser Scotts writing is entirely brought to live by Olivia Caw who tell the story through "bonnie mckay" a show that will have you laughing then sobbing (proper sobbing) and hits all the nerves in the best way possible. A stand out this years fringe and very well deserved. Stunningly crafted and beautifully executed. 'Proper fire in belly stuff""
Parasocial Activity
★★★★
Theatre (New Writing, Dark Comedy)
Age 14+
17:40 - The Penny at Gilded Balloon Patter House - until 31st August
Sarah - ★★★★
"Briony martha tells the story of a chance meeting of james macovy in a glasgow costa and the madness that ensues for the character after falling in love with him, exploring the connection we feel we have with celebrities while also delving in to the new use of AI , allowing parasocial relationships a whole new relm. Briony martha's performance is nothing short of electric and sensational, a worthy winner of a fringe first. Catch while you can."
The Tuth About Trees
★★★★
Children's Shows (Puppetry)
Age 5+
10:45 - The Box at Assembly George Square - until 30th August
Oban (Age 8) - ★★★1/2
"This is a great show for little ones, especially if you want them to learn about nature. My favourite thing about the show was how enthusiastic they were about books."
Hazel - ★★★★
"The performers created such a warm and inclusive atmosphere. From the moment we walked in they were interacting with the audience, making sure that everyone was comfortable. I loved how they introduced themselves in all their characters before the show started. My favourite bits in the show where the puppet elements, I would love to see a version of this show that leant more heavily on that. Also some audience participation would have been great. All in all a brilliant show for preschoolers. I don't think we were the target audience but we still had a lovely time."
Thea (Age 9 months) - ★★★★★
"The performers smiled at me every time I gave them a baby heckle. This was VERY exciting! I was stunned into silence every time the puppet boy came out or the magic shadow puppet shapes started appearing. They even gave us seed filled paper to take home and plant in our garden which of course I had to taste. I loved how calm and gentle this show was, I'd very much like to see it again one day when I understand words."
Suitcase Show
★★★★
Theatre (Puppetry, Storytelling)
Age 12+
11:45 - Upstairs at Assembly Roxy - until 30th August
Archie (Age 13) - ★★★★★
"This show is about a man who gets pulled over at an airport for having shady things in his many suitcases. While he is having them checked, he opens them up and uses what’s inside to tell stories. I really enjoyed this show. It uses unique storytelling with a different tone and feel to each story. Most of the time he used just his hands. In others he used light and puppets. I was very engrossed in all the stories and they kept me engaged and entertained. Overall I felt this was a very good show."
Ailie (Age 17) - ★★★
"I loved the way they used the suitcases as a way to tell the story and the fact that after every suitcase they went back to security in the airport. However, I didn't really understand the plot as it was confusing."
Georgie (Age 11) - ★★★★★
"It was really funny I like the scenes it was just a really fun show. It was like being at a real airport I enjoyed when he got sent to the addition screening part."
REDACTED: The Cover-Up of a Cover-Up of a Cover-Up
★★★★
Theatre (Physical Theatre, Comedy)
Age 12+
13:55 - King Dome at Pleasance Dome - until 30th August
Archie (Age 13) - ★★★★
"This was a show about a journalist who investigates aliens on Earth and is chased by a mysterious man with an eyepatch and two policeman it was a really good show. I had deep emotional themes and lots of physical theatre. Everything was made using physical theatre. My favourite was the creation of cars and planes overall were totally recommend."
Ailie (Age 17) - ★★★★
"I really liked the way that all the actors were always on stage and had all their props within their outfit. Another thing that I found really cool about this show is that they had someone using instruments to create sound effects. I loved the storyline of the police officers trying to uncover what was under the word redacted. Although, at points it was hard to understand I really enjoyed nonetheless."
Georgie (Age 11) - ★★★★★
"I enjoyed this show. I liked the singing that was really good. it felt like it was a bit of a true story, i also liked how they used their bodies as the props."
Explosive Science Show!
★★★★★
Children's Shows (Science and Technology, Comedy)
Age 5+
10:00 - Piccolo Tent at Assembly George Square Gardens - until 31st
Houston (Age 9) - ★★★★★
"The vortex was awesome and elephant toothpaste. Explosive, funny and informative."
Mum - ★★★★★
"Great show which encourages children to be children, explore, create and experiment. The joke H2O & H2O2 will stick with me forever more 😆"
Hypnotist Matt Hale: Funbelievable! 90s Rewind
★★★★★
Comedy (Magic, Cabaret)
Age 8+
Various times - Big Yin at Gilded Balloon Patter House - until 31st
Houston (Age 9) - ★★★★★
"The man who had a button on his forehead to switch him off was funny 🤣"
Mum - ★★★★★
"Absolutely hilarious with a complete 90's theme which was just bouncing for the audience and the participants."
Afronauts
★★★
Dance, Physical Theatre & Circus (Theatre, Family-Friendly)
Age 5+
run ended
Mix Up Junior (Age 7) - ★★★
"It was just OK I like how it is a true story."
Stewart - ★★★
"Bit of an oddity this one (space oddity?) as it follows a group African's attempt to enter the space race. Not sure if they message is entirely appropriate - 'at least they tried'. The show itself is filled with some exhilarating physical movement and circus skills and some broad humour that gets tired a bit quick. A likeable group of performers if not entirely a successful show."
Motorway
★★★
Theatre (Absurdist, Dark Comedy)
Age 16+
run ended
Stewart - ★★★
"A strange and peculiar atmosphere permeates through this deliciously offbeat little play tucked away at the festival. A little remiscent of a Gregg Araki movie. Two friends work in an empty diner and are visited by aliens. Or something like that. Not really sure! The play delights in being obscure and the performances by the young talented cast of four are clearly revelling in playing off-the-wall but it could do with giving its audience a bit more than just a bunch of weird scenes. As fun as they are, could do with a bit more substance under the strangeness."
1 Hour of Insane Magic
★★★★★
Cabaret and Variety (Magic, Comedy)
Age 8+
run ended
Oban (Age 8) - ★★★★★
"8 out of 5 stars. This show will blow your mind. My favourite part was when they took the lazers from the sky. Very very magical fun."
Hazel - ★★★★★
"Amazing homegrown magic. I loved every minute, they were so funny and talented. I literally have no idea how they did what they did!"
Thea (Age 9 months) - ★★★★★
"The lights were so mesmerising, they even made a light come out of my tummy before the show started. I particularly liked all the clapping. I'm not sure what we were clapping at, but it was very fun to clap along with all the people around me."
Steffen Haanes: The Master
★★★
Comedy (Clown, Horror)
Age 16+
run ended
Stewart - ★★★
"The Master is a ridiculous vampire character hilariously performed by Steffen Haanes who attempts to spook the audience with his low-rate horror. The character is funny but there's a lack of real jokes to get through the hour and Haanes relies too heavily on repeating phrases or actions that got a laugh first time around which subsequently gets a little wearisome after a half hour. Perhaps more fun the more inebriated you are as plenty of the audience were in hysterics despite the content of the show itself perhaps needing a bit more fleshed out (ha!)"
Hello Beach
★★★★★
Children's Shows (Puppetry, Storytelling)
Age 0+
run ended
Thea (Age 9 months) - ★★★★★
"There are not enough stars in sky to give to this show. I loved it so much I asked my Granny to take me a 2nd time before they left Edinburgh. I REALLY hope they visit again. All the props were delicious and I was captivated from start to finish. This was definitely my favourite show of the Fringe!"
Hazel - ★★★★★
"Wow, what a delight this show was! Just flawless for this age group. The pacing, the props, the interaction. There was nothing annoying about this show which can sometimes be the case for baby theatre. The performers were funny and at ease, total pros at what they do and it added to how relaxed the environment felt. I loved that the main singer/story teller signed the entire show, this was a really nice touch and showed how much effort they'd put into making this an inclusive show. I also REALLY appreciated that this show was at 11.30am, we missed out on a lot of shows because they were just too early for us and the rhythm of our day. Thank you for catering to us night owls!"
Mark Simmons: Jokes at Noon
★★★★
Comedy (Stand-Up)
Age 18+
run ended
Stewart - ★★★★
"My favourite joke of the Fringe came from Mark Simmons this year but it's just far too rude to write here (the one about the window cleaner if you saw the show ha!). Anyway, Mark Simmons continues to be a bit of a cult hit favourite at the free festival and its guaranteed laughs at lunch time - long may it continue. It's very simple but clever wordplay as Simmons focuses on the punchline rather than any storytelling in his set but the rapidness of the laughs keeps the set running on along just fine. Simmons was having a bit of fun with his audience on the day I was in as it was a rather quiet Wednesday on the last week of the festival so perhaps more of a tea and coffee crowd than a rowdy beer drinking crowd. Which meant he seemed to have a bit of a tough crowd to work with which I think he seemed to enjoy seeing some audience members not crack a smile! Some people just don't get that window cleaner joke!"
Tale of the Firebird - Concerto for Violin, Fire & Acrobatic Orchestra
★★★★★
Dance, Physical Theatre & Circus (Circus, Family-Friendly)
Age 5+
run ended
Hazel - ★★★★★
"Wow talk about over achievers. Not content with just being world class musicians, they also decided to become world class acrobats and circus performers. Every time I think I've seen the pinnacle of what humans are capable of, a group like this comes along and raises the bar! Spoiler alert, if you've ever wanted to see someone play a harp upside down whilst suspended in the air, this is the show for you!"
Oban (Age 8) - ★★★★1/2
"I only took off half a star because I don't really like classical music. But if you do, you will LOVE this show. Everything they did was incredible, I especially liked it when the main person breathed fire. We asked her afterwards if she still has taste buds and luckily she still has no problems tasting chocolate."
Thea (Age 9 months) - ★★★★★
"I loved when the birds came into the audience. I wasn't even scared of the mean bird, I just liked that he played his violin right next to me. I got to practice my clapping skills lots in this show and everyone seemed to like it when I filled the silence with my singing."
Trainspotting Live
★★★★
Theatre (Site-Specific, Adaptation)
Age 16+
run ended
Stewart - ★★★★
"An impressive piece of immersive performance blasts through this adaptation of Irvine Welsh's classic tale of drug addiction in Scotland with a brash cheeky sense of humour. The start of the show works best and the despicably gruesome aspects such as the worst toilet in Scotland get big laughs as the audience are thrown right into the mix of things. Have a little consideration of what to wear when you come along to this show. Performances are fantastic, if sometimes a little shouty but I think that's due to the way the venue set out for this memorable performance which comprises more of a series of vignettes from Trainspotting rather than a fully fleshed out play.
However, when the grittier aspects of the story come into play, it's a lot less enjoyable and a harder watch which I would argue is overplayed to be verging on being emotionally manipulative in its slide into misery porn. The last 20 minutes didn't work for me, despite the power of the performances, but the run up to this point was excellent. I'd also say this show should be rated 18.
In the meantime, also, lets consider that Trainspotting Live has been running now for 10 very successful Fringe years, and the Danny Boyle film is so brilliant and iconic and is itself now 30 years old. The recent disastrous London run of Trainspotting the Musical - which has subsequently had it's UK tour cancelled - is also worth highlighting for a moment.
So, do we think now, perhaps it's time to move on from Trainspotting? Scotland is abundant with voices and art and there's so much fresh talent deserving to have their time in the sun also. If this company put so much of their talent, effort and expertise into something new, fresh and representative of Scotland today in 2026 - then sign me up!"
Baby Lame: Hit Me Baby One More Lame!
★★★★★
Comedy (Drag)
Age 18+
run ended
Stewart - ★★★★★
"My eyes, my eyes! My beautiful eyes! What the heck did I just watch!?!? Because whatever exactly this insane drag, sci-fi melding of Britney Spears career through a surreal kaleidoscopic nonsensical extravaganza of immersive audience participation, video games, dolls and Sigourney Weaver is then I want more!!!!
Baby Lame is bonkers and it’s the funniest, messiest, wildest show I’ve seen at the festival this year. It was a small intimate audience on the night and our host expressed that they weren’t looking forward to the show that night but Baby Lame certainly seemed to have an absolute blast in the end and the whole audience dancing away on the stage to Britney by the end of the show was the icing on this very bizarre, outrageous piece of fabulous cake."
And then some we didn't really enjoy...
The Song of Lip and Tarantula
Stewart - ★★
"Started off quite promising and strange but this tale of two trans women going off on their own paths was a bit of a slog to sit through and the shrillness of the performances didn't help. Whilst its worth appreciating and supporting Queer Art, this one could have done with a bit more streamlined direction."
ARCADE
Stewart - ★★
"First time I've tried one of these audio immersive experiences you'll find in shipping containers dotted around the festival. This one promised an '80s style video arcade choose-your-own journey story. It's quite unique a setting however for me the synopsis didn't match with the audio story which I found a bit confusing, underwhelming and ultimately a bit of a pointless bore. 20 minutes seemed like an age and I was just looking forward to leaving. Not for me but some people love it."
Make sure you've booked in for Mix Up Theatre DRAMA CLASSES!
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