FRINGE REVIEW 2025: Round-Up!
- Mix Up Theatre (Stewart)
- Aug 4
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 9
Here's a quick run-down of everything else we've caught at the festival so far...
Jamie Leonard - Wonder Boy
★★★★★
Cabaret and Variety (Magic, Comedy)
Age 3+
run ended
Ben (Age 7) - ★★★★★
"A thousand infinity stars! The best bit about it was when he gave the cards to another person without even actually touching it. Amazing!"
A fantastic, friendly, charming and pretty astounding magic trick performance from the brilliant Jamie Leonard - he's clearly on the cusp of becoming massive and refining skills in these shows is the best time to come and join us in becoming a fan. He's also very funny! It's a short run at the Fringe but keep a look out for Jamie in the future!
The Mequetrefo
★★★★★
Children's Shows (Clown, Circus)
Age 3+
11:20am - Underbelly, Bristo Square - until 10th August
Mix Up Junior (Age 6) - ★★★★★
"So funny! I was laughing all the way."
Stewart - ★★★★★
"Absolutely brilliant. Old school clowning, looks simple and easy but produces the deep belliest of laughs. Moves quickly from one scenario to the next and it was a total riot. Loved it and so did the wee man! We both laughed non-stop for the hour. Highly recommended."
ComedySportz
★★★★★
Children's Shows (Improv, Comedy)
Age 8+
13:45 - Laughing Horse @ The Three Sisters - until 17th Aug
Iris (Age 11) - ★★★★★
"HILARIOUS. Five stars.."
We always have an absolute blast at the ComedySportz performances and this was very much the same this year. The great thing about the show is that it's different every time so you could come along every day! And still walk away laughing your head off. Great set up, audience interaction and a whole lot of fun. Love it - and so did the massive groups of students we brought along.
1 Moment in Time
★★★★★
Cabaret and Variety
Age 8+
15:55 - theSpace @ Surgeon's Hall - until 23rd August
Sandy (Age 12) - ★★★★1/5
"Well that was AMAZING! even when the tricks didn’t turn out well or he got them wrong he was being funny about it"
Olivia (Age 13) - ★★★★★
"One moment in time is a terrific magic show... I found it a little scary at first when the music started and he walked out with the balloon, we we're sat in the front and I was scared of being picked to do something but over time I could see he was an amazing magician who knew what he was doing. It was so incredible I can't even begin to imagine how he did it! He had audience participation and even made an incredible house of cards. It got a little sad towards the end when he started talking about his son, and I did cry a little... But overall it was a terrific magic show and a must see!"
La Clique
★★★★★
Cabaret and Variety (Circus, Cabaret)
Age 16+
Various Times - The Famous Spiegeltent - until 31st August
★★★★★
Totally wild, absolutely outrageous and definitely one just for the parents! This is a brilliant evening's entertainment and especially for anyone who doesn't mind it a bit risque. The ensemble is extremely talented and at the top of their game and my favourite act was the Las Vegas magic double act who happen to have things go hilariously haywire during one trick. Loved it! If you are having a night out at the Fringe, this is the one to see!
Shakespeare for Breakfast
Theatre
Age 0+
10:00 - Main House @ C Arts - until 24th Aug
Lyanna (Age 10) - ★★★
"This is an intro to Shakespeare plays (well known like Romeo and Juliet and less well known like Julius Caesar) made for children. I really enjoyed watching this as it was funny, inclusive, interesting and the actors were brilliant. My favourite part was the comedy. Highly recommended"
Explosive Science Show!
★★★★★
Children's Shows (Science and Technology, Comedy)
Age 3+
10:30 - Gordon Aikman Theatre at Assembly George Square Gardens - until 25th August
Ailsa (Age 5) & Esme (Age 8) - ★★★★★
"Since going to this show we have been declaring Dr Danger's catchphrase at the top of our lungs: 'SCIENCE!!!!'.
At the beginning Magnus made a vortex of smoke which he made big rings with and shot at everybody! In the middle he set his hand on fire and for the big finale he made elephant toothpaste which wouldn't stop and kept going on and on and on and on!
This show was very funny because of the jokes but most of all because of the brilliant host: Magnus D. Magnus. Also known as 'Dr Danger' he was the most enthusiastic person we've ever met about science. We also loved how things didn't always go to plan despite him being clever.
Experiments catching on fire when he was looking away and Magnus ending up shouting at a bucket which kept smoking and puffing clouds were some of our favourite parts.
Another highlight was when he tricked an audience member about a highly explosive substance which was actually just washing up liquid! The props on the stage with all the formulas and chemicals were cool. The staging included lots of funny sound effects we giggled to and the lighting was like we were having a disco party whenever the catchphrase was declared.
We learned cool science facts such as the chemical formula of water and how mixing liquid nitrogen and boiling water will make explosions!!
We would definitely recommend this show to EVERYBODY because you get to do lots of crazy scientific experiments with Magnus who is super enthusiastic and it's funny."
Shakespeare for Kids: Toil and Trouble
Children's Shows (Physical Theatre, Storytelling)
Age 3+
11:10 - Main House @ C Arts - until 24th Aug
Iris (Age 11) - ★★★★★
"This is an intro to Shakespeare plays (well known like Romeo and Juliet and less well known like Julius Caesar) made for children. I really enjoyed watching this as it was funny, inclusive, interesting and the actors were brilliant. My favourite part was the comedy. Highly recommended"
School's Out Comedy Club with Philip Simon
★★★★★
Children's Shows
Age 5+
12:30pm - Dirty Martini at La Monde - until 17th August
Cassie (Age 11) - ★★★★★
"This is a comedy show all about telling jokes. I mean, all comedy shows are about jokes but this one especially. The audience can also put their hand up and come on stage and tell a joke or a riddle… The show is really funny and the guy is really nice. It’s very inclusive of the audience and you don’t have to go onstage if you don’t want to. He keeps the show going and is REALLY good at making up jokes on the spot.
I recommend this show! If you come, I suggest making sure you have a joke or a riddle or story in the back of your head."
Circus The Show
★★★★
Children's Shows (Circus, Comedy)
Age 3+
14:50 - Palais du Variete at Assembly George Square Gardens - until 25th August
Mix Up Junior (Age 6) - ★★★★★
"I give it all the stars, the clown was funny and they had a girl floating on the stage."
Stewart - ★★★
"Showmen productions always put on a great show but the pace seemed to be a bit off on this one and there were a few hiccups along the way - which probably isn't what you want in a kids cabaret performance. Still, the little guy loved it and of course seeing any show in that venue is a bonus in itself."
The World at 15mph...ish
★★★★★
Spoken Word (Storytelling, True-Life)
Age 12+
11:05 - PBH's Free Fringe @ BrewDog Lothian Road
Archie (Age 12) - ★★★★★
"The storytelling was very good it was also quite emotional. It was an amazing story, the slide shows were very interesting. Hearing her own life story and her telling it was extraordinary but also a bit sad. All in all i thought it was a very good and i highly recommend."
Maddie (Age 11) - ★★★★★
"I thought it very inspirational to hear an ordinary person can do anything if the set their mind to it. I also thought the way she layout the show was great because we got to hear about all the things she has experienced in that time as well as seeing beautiful photos of the mountains and the world. I think if your looking for an amazing inspirational adventure I think you would highly enjoy this story."
Ten Thousand Hours
★★★★★
Dance, Physical Theatre & Circus
Age 5+
18:00 - Main Hall at Assembly Hall - until 24th August
Georgie (Age 10) - ★★★★★
"I give it 10 out of 10, it was nerve racking when they do the trust falls. They must be so strong. I loved it. I liked the acrobatics in the air, it was scary because I thought they were going to fall. I liked getting my picture taking with some of the crew at the end as well.
It's the best show. Everyone must see it."
We had a workshop with Gravity & Other Myths at our Edinburgh Fringe Festival Summer Camp...
We voted Ten Thousand Hours the best show at the Edinburgh Fringe 2024...
The Listies: Make Some Noise
★★★★★
Children's Shows (Family-Friendly, Comedy)
Age 5+
11:30 - Studio One at Assembly George Square Gardens - until 25th August
Archie (Age 12) - ★★★★★
"I thought there was a lot of good childish jokes that made me laugh. I thought they included lots of good music. I also thought they did a marvellous job at creating their characters and varying the characters persona all in all i highly recommend."
Maddie (Age 11) - ★★★★★
"I thought the show was brilliant. It includes funny skits, audience participation and lots more. They also do a great job at having a serious character and a silly one. I think you will love it if you love comedy and silliness but in a child friendly way."
Mix Up Junior (Age 6) - ★★★★★
"It was sooo funny when the man kept showing his bum crack! A hundred billion stars!"
Stewart - ★★★★★
"Crazy fun right from the off, The Listies have been doing this gig for a while now and have become stalwarts of the festival. So expect a hilarious, polished, bonkers show and the baby steals it!"
Make sure you've booked in for Mix Up Theatre DRAMA CLASSES!
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