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Reviewing live events across the UK.

Is Jack Lowden about to become the next James Bond Is Jack Lowden about to become the next James Bond? 

Kirsty Wark recently interviewed Gary Oldman at a BAFTA screening of the new series of Slow Horses. When Jack Lowden’s name was mentioned in connection with 007, Oldman suddenly looked very uncomfortable. He started fidgeting with his face, playing with his shoes and  seemed keen to move on from the question. Yet, throughout the rest of the interview, he was completely composed. 
Oldman has now also said publicly that the next Bond has already been chosen, while making it pretty clear that he has his fingers crossed for Lowden.

Could we be about to get another Scottish James Bond? 

 #bond #jacklowden #007
Titclown: Daddy’s Little Girl ⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars Bold. U Titclown: Daddy’s Little Girl
⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars 
Bold. Unsettling. Playful. Jessica Aszkenasy’s Daddy’s Little Girl is a strange, funny and deliberately provocative hour of clown theatre that leans hard into discomfort. It’s a show built on physical comedy, taboo‑poking and a character who flips between innocence and something far more chaotic. Aszkenasy throws herself into the role with real commitment. But the audience interaction doesn’t always land. At points she seems unsure how to steer it, and a couple of exchanges leave her visibly thrown off rather than in control of the chaos. Even so, there’s an energy to the piece that keeps it engaging. It’s weird, it’s bold, and it’s performed with total conviction. Not everything works, but when it does, it’s genuinely funny and memorable.A risky, playful Fringe experience that will absolutely stick in your head.

Summerhall, Edinburgh

#review #edfringe edinburgh #summerhall
Not Another Quiz ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars A lively, chaotic Not Another Quiz
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars
 A lively, chaotic and very fun way to round off a night at the Fringe. It has all the ingredients of a pub quiz, a music round, a topical news round but lots of surprises and audience involvement. There are "celebrity" guests, funny celebrity-themed prizes, people hauled up on stage and a brilliant challenge to see who can put on the most clothes. It’s silly and fun.
The interaction with the audience is what makes it.  The only real low point is the seating, tiny stools around tables are brutal. But it’s still far better than any pub quiz you’re ever been to. 

Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh

#comedy #edfringe #fringe #edinburgh #review
Superbowl Salsa ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars Fast, sexy, relen Superbowl Salsa
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars 
Fast, sexy, relentless. 
Superbowl Salsa moves at extraordinary speed and is bursting with energy. The performers maintain a level of footwork that borders on unbelievable, carrying the pace from one routine to the next. It is easy to see why this group was selected for the 2020 Super Bowl alongside Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. Every song arrives with a fresh costume, shifting from sequins to streetwear to traditional dress. A short explanation of salsa’s development in Colombia provides useful context, including the detail that DJs once played 33⅓ records at 45rpm to create the faster style that shaped the movement on stage. An incredible party show that will have you dancing along by the end.

Assembly Hall until 30 Aug

#salsa #edinburgh #edfringe #superbowl
Stamptown Netflix special ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars Stamptow Stamptown Netflix special
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars 

Stamptown’s Netflix premiere was every bit as chaotic and mad as you’d expect. Running late after the live show overran, the red carpet in George Sq Gardens was the perfect setting for the premiere of a show that first made its mark at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Fringe stars were out in force, including Gary Starr, who features in the special, and Norwegian comedian Viggo Venn, instantly recognisable in his trademark high-vis jacket. The star of the show Zach Zucker gave an emotional introduction and Edinburgh clearly means so much to him. 
It’s fantastic to see Stamptown now captured as a Netflix special, and the filming really embraces the chaos. It is manic, unpredictable, exciting, you have no idea what's going to happen next. A brilliant night and a special that’s well worth watching.
Morning Sauna Rave ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars Invigorating. Morning Sauna Rave
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars 
Invigorating. Euphoric. Joyful. 
The most exhilarating way to start the day. After changing into swimwear, you enter a sauna packed with just over 80 people, with hot coals at the centre and a DJ blasting classic dance anthems. Disco lights flash and then the Aufguss master arrives. Ice balls are placed on the coals, creating steam, before the master sweeps towels through the air in a rhythmic, choreographed routine, wafting the hot steam around. Every 15 minutes or so, it happens again and in between, you're encouraged to dance. When it gets too hot, head outside for a cold shower or plunge, then go straight back in. By the end, you feel completely recharged. By far the hottest performance at the Festival. 

Summerhall, Edinburgh

#rave #festival #review #edfringe #edinburgh
Abandoman ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars Infectious. Rob Broderick, Abandoman
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars 
Infectious. Rob Broderick, aka Abandoman, has the ability to make a roomful of strangers feel like they have just joined the same backing band. His relaxed, happy and permanently smiley presence creates an atmosphere of warmth, with the packed Belly Dancer quickly becoming a gig and a comedy show combined.The hip-hop is only part of it, as Broderick effortlessly veers into drum and bass, dance and whatever else the audience throws at him. His brilliant “what’s in your pocket?” routine remains a highlight, turning lighters, vapes and random objects held aloft into the material for completely improvised songs. The audience interaction is infectious: everyone wants to join in, and somehow Broderick turns the suggestions into surprisingly good music. It is also a joy to see Abandoman back in a smaller venue. After playing much bigger spaces, there is something special about being close enough to feel part of it. The intimacy suits the show, and the sharp lighting and relentless energy make the whole thing feel like a proper party. The finale, a rap about a baker and everyone heading back to the baker’s house for an after-party was a hilariously funny climax. This is the best improvisation you are likely to see at the Fringe.

Underbelly, Edinburgh

#edinburgh
edfringe #review
#comedy
Hassan Al-Habib ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars Hassan Al-Habib is Hassan Al-Habib
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars
Hassan Al-Habib is a master of accents, effortlessly jumping from an Iraqi voice to a Birmingham wide-boy and even a French accent, often within the same story. Beneath the laughs is a touching and at times sad story about his relationship with his mum, but Al-Habib never lets it weigh the show down.
He strides across the stage with huge confidence, smashing stereotypes and skewering different forms of racism with sharp, genuinely funny comedy. The audience interaction is natural, adding to a performance that feels completely in control.

Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh

#edfringe #comedy #review
House of Life ⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars Warm, upbeat, fun.  A House of Life 
⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars 

Warm, upbeat, fun.  A feel‑good hour built around music and positivity that feeds off the audience. Egg shakers are thrown out into the audience at the start so everyone can shake along to the music as the room settles into a relaxed, party rhythm. 

Led by Ben Macpherson, whose incredible voice and easy presence carry the show. He’s joined by a talented keyboard and sax player who builds live loops throughout. At times it's almsot like a dance piece, with the two performers working together to keep the space alive and the audience engaged.
The only real issue is scale. In a larger venue, the intimacy the show has had doesn’t quite work, and some of the reflective moments just don't feel as special. But it's a fun show and a great way to start a party night.
Bel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Poignant. Personal. Devastating. Bel, Bel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Poignant. Personal. Devastating.
Bel, at the Edinburgh Festival, is a desperately sad but deeply insightful portrait of a young woman on the cusp of greatness. Through personally recorded video footage, we are given an intimate window into  Beldina Odenyo's life, her trauma and the struggles that followed, including a relationship with drugs that only compounded what she was going through. Interviews with her family and friends show she was warmly loved by many. 
The use of her own recordings makes the experience feel remarkably intimate. What makes it so heartbreaking is the sense of possibility, of someone with extraordinary potential overwhelmed by circumstances, trauma of her past and the pressures that came with it.
A powerful, intimate and profoundly moving film which Bel's music beautifully adds heart to. 

#bel #music #edinburgh #edfilmfest
Hope ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Gruesome and delightful. In full Hope

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Gruesome and delightful. In full Imax cinema, the film is beautifully brought to life. A cleverly restrained horror that keeps its creature hidden long enough to leave you wondering what on earth could be causing such excessive damage as whole streets are demolished. When it finally appears, what looks like a familiar monster story becomes something more thoughtful, a strange but surprisingly tender tale about family, protection, belonging and the fear of outsiders. There’s gore, oddball humour and plenty of unsettling moments. Strange, original and occasionally very funny, it’s a horror that leaves you seeing the monsters in a rather different light. Weird, wonderful and unexpectedly moving.

Part of EIFF

#horror #hope #film #cinema
Dan Tiernan: Quartz & All ★★★★ Unhinged, jaw‑achin Dan Tiernan: Quartz & All
★★★★
Unhinged, jaw‑achingly funny.
A faint smell of incense sets the mood as a video of Dan dancing loops overhead, and from there the chaos doesn't stop. Tiernan drives the hour with manic, unpredictable energy, using crowd interaction that keeps people slightly on edge, a tension he snaps with razor‑sharp, perfectly timed laughs.

His new obsession with quartz rocks becomes a running thread, tied neatly into a brilliant story about his stolen phone that may have ended up in China. The callbacks are tight, clever, and keep the whole thing on track while amplifying the chaos.

The finale brings a burst of magic that lifts the whole room. 

A frantic, funny show from a comic who knows exactly how to work an audience.
 
#comedy  #edfringe #fringe #edinburgh #review
The Van Gogh Shogh ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars Fast, funny and The Van Gogh Shogh
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars
 Fast, funny and brilliantly unhinged. Donna Oblongata is Vincent Van Gough, a likeable, quick‑witted performer.
She bursts in as a frazzled Uber Eats driver, ranting about being skint. 
A handful of selected painters are invited to create their own Starry Night, while bubble guns, confetti cannons and Oblongata’s manic energy turn the hour into a chaotic celebration of the artist’s legacy. It’s daft and hilarious. 

#edinburgh #edfringe #vangough #art
Deep Fake ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars A thought‑provoking, desce Deep Fake
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars

A thought‑provoking, descent into AI ethics. 

Deep Fake is a sharp, unsettling and thought‑provoking immersive experience that places you alone at the centre of a moral minefield. As Head of Public Relations at MirrorMinds, you’re the only audience member and the sole decision‑maker, preparing to launch technology that can create perfectly real‑looking fake videos. You are forced to justify your own stance on the ethics of AI.

You video‑chat with colleagues, sift through documents in your office and piece together the truth behind the product you’re either meant to defend or scrap. The show pushes you to interrogate whether such technology should be used at all. 

Deep Fake excels in how it blurs fiction and reality just enough to make your choices matter. It’s intimate, cleverly constructed and not far away from the realities facing technology companies right now. 

#ai #ethics #edfringe
Thermodrama ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4stars Coco Cottam’s Thermodra Thermodrama

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4stars 

Coco Cottam’s Thermodrama is a sharply written, darkly funny play about the toxic pursuit of self-improvement. Set in a sauna, the roasting room in Summerhall is the perfect setting. As the room becomes increasingly hot, four lives collide: a fixation with the gym, complicated relationships and tradegy, expose how the drive to become better and the focus on oneself can make us oblivious to everyone around us to the detriment of all. 

Clever on several levels. Sharp and funny. A smart piece of Fringe theatre that leaves you sweating for all the right reasons.

At Summerhall

#edfringe #fringe #summerhall #review
Amanda Knox: Cartwheel ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars Heartfelt an Amanda Knox: Cartwheel

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars
Heartfelt and achingly sad, this show tells Amanda Knox’s story with clarity and control. She remains one of the most recognisable women in the world, her face having appeared on front pages for months, and the controversy still follows her. Tens of thousands have signed petitions calling for the show to be cancelled, almost none of them having seen it, which underlines how easily people can be swept into outrage before understanding what they are reacting to. Amanda uses this performance to reclaim her own narrative and to correct long‑standing falsehoods, including the claim that she did cartwheels in the police station. She explains that she was doing the splits to stretch between long interrogation sessions, and that a police officer asked her to show how flexible she was. She also speaks openly about her friendship with Meredith, describing her as the sensible one, and the sadness of never being able to mourn her properly. 

Amanda reflects on the fear she felt when facing a twenty‑six year sentence, worrying she would never become a mother, only for that fear to return years later when she suffered a miscarriage. She describes trauma running through her like poison, yet she now has two children and speaks with warmth about her own mother’s sadness during the darkest years. The light at the end of the tunnel was simply at the end of a longer tunnel. Amanda is confident and commands the stage, and although Meredith’s murder is mentioned only briefly, its impact on Amanda is unmistakable. She talks about the love a parent has for a child, a love no different from that felt by Meredith’s mother and family, who have asked for the show to be cancelled. There are moments of genuine humour, but a tension sits over the room given the publicity surrounding the piece. There are real tears in the audience, and the emotional arc is unmistakable. The story is compelling, occasionally funny, but deeply sad for everyone involved. The most powerful and emotionally moving show at the Fringe.

Gilded Balloon until 17th August 

#theatre #amandaknox #cancelled #edfringe
The Neon Bubble Show ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars Visually spect The Neon Bubble Show

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars

Visually spectacular. 

A bright, visually spectacular bubble show that lifts you into another world of neon light and drifting shapes. Bubbles drift like jellyfish as UV colour washes through the room. The flow between sections isn’t always seamless, but the imagination behind it is really impressive, and the visual impact is huge.

Audience participation is simple but effective with some being luckily enough to find themselves inside a bubble.

Bright, clever, and full of charm. A standout family‑friendly experience at the Fringe.

WU until 24th August 2026

#bubbles #review #edfringe #edinburgh
DUST ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars A fierce, gripping one‑man DUST 
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars

A fierce, gripping one‑man performance that pulls you straight into a lockdown night full of morphine haze, memory and Northern grit. The actor shifts between boxer, soldier and miner with a clarity and honesty that hits hard. It’s raw, grounded and full of soul. The tribute running through the piece, to servicemen, to the seven men lost in the Lofthouse Colliery disaster, and to miners who lived in darkness, is powerful tribute to working class heroes. Brilliantly acted, emotionally sharp, and unforgettable. 
#edinburgh #edfringe #theatre #review
An Ode to the Casting Director ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars An Ode to the Casting Director
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars 
 
Brilliantly inventive, fast-paced and hugely entertaining. 

Sophie Fisher’s one-woman show follows an aspiring actor navigating a succession of increasingly excruciating auditions while earning a living as a waitress.

She's repeatedly being asked to prove that you can become somebody else, only to be told you are not quite what someone is looking for. 

The pace is brisk, and the succession of auditions provides a natural structure through which the absurdities of the casting process can be exposed. 

It is funny but there is enough vulnerability beneath the comedy to give the story emotional weight.

Above all, this is an impressive performance. Fisher commands the stage with confidence and considerable skill. 

#edinburgh #festival #edfringe #casting
 Lizzy Sunshine ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐ A burst of chaotic joy. An  Lizzy Sunshine
⭐⭐⭐ ⭐ 

A burst of chaotic joy. An hour that’s unpredictable and uplifting. Built around the idea of flipping life’s negatives into something more positive, the show is fun, fast and interactive. When her partner doesn’t show, the audience becomes her co‑star. A therapy session for Lizzy and the audience, bring your problems, she'll solve them! A feel‑good riot. 

#comedy #edfringe #fringe #edinburgh #funny

Gilded Balloon until 31 August 2026 at 1420
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Spectacular! Moulin Rouge dazzles at the Edinburgh Playhouse with a visually rich, high-energy production.

The doner is a Turkish creation of meat, often lamb, but not necessarily so, that is

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