Comedy

National treasure, Stephen Fry brings his best-selling novel, ‘Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold’, to life. The tantalisingly dramatic mythology of the Greeks is full of gore, sex and life lessons. Fry has taken on the mammoth task of performing three different plays centred on different aspects of the mythology: the Gods, the heroes and the mortals. Today was an in-depth looks at the powerful yet flawed Gods and how the world began, ‘not with a bang but with chaos.’

Birds of Paradise produced Purposeless Movements back in 2016 to address a specific medical description of CP:  "Which of our movements are purposeless?" The production dives into what it means to be a man living with Cerebral Palsy. Four professional actors with varying intensity of the condition present their perspective in an open, funny and poignant manner.

Pretty Knickers Productions presents a dirty, gritty comedy full of swearing and hilarious dead-pan remarks, a good ol’ fashioned farce with over-the-top, comical characters who are all fighting over the will of a wealthy, promiscuous older gentleman. Three bratty sisters believe they’re going to walk away with his entire fortune before a suspicious stranger slips in at the last second to receive the lot.

Friendsical is a great excuse for nostalgia over one of the nation’s favourite TV shows. The cast are phenomenal and incredibly convincing. In particular Mitchells (Chandler), Lee-Morgan (Ross) and Goggins (Monica) really sell the part and have the mannerisms down. The set is a gorgeous, brightly coloured haven, featuring both flats and the iconic 'Central Perk'. 

Strap on your safety belt, here come the Princesses.

Based on real children’s birthday parties, these unwholesome, definitely-not-Disney-approved hosts give you an outrageous, X-rated take on what happens when the costumes go on...and come off!

Character comedy at its wildest, Los Angeles-based sketch comedians Lauren Howard Hayes and Hannah Pilkes take you through the drunk and dismayed Snow White and Alice, the no-filter, bossy older kids, the wealthy and delusional Beverly Hills mums and the miserable hired help to absurd and hilarious results. 

If you want to find the Scottish talent at this year’s Fringe, look no further. Square Go is a true reflection of our school yard antics, full to the brim with hilarious Scottish phrases, strawberry laces and what it really means to be a man. We find Max, hiding in the school toilets, preparing himself for his first proper toe-to-toe square go fight with the terrifying school bully, ‘a pure beast.’ Friend Stevie is there to console him, but, like typical young Scots, their relationship is based solely on slagging each other off within an inch of their lives.

‘Anomaly Theatre Company’ debuts Surveillance at this year’s Fringe, promising a dark exploration into technology’s tight grip on our modern society. They certainly deliver, with three twisted tales based in a future that is not far off.

There are a few Fawlty Towers tributes floating around the Fringe this year. But Interactive Theatre International is the world’s longest running ‘Dining Experience.’ This is their twelfth visit to the Edinburgh Fringe and the show itself has been running for twenty-two years all over the world. This is the true original and it shows.  

Foil Arms and Hog, internet sensations, return to the Edinburgh Fringe to premiere their new show ‘Swines’ in the magnificent McEwan Hall. With a mix of sketch comedy, audience participation and improvisation, this is the epitome of a fun night out. The energy and connection between the trio seems very genuine. Friends who met in University and ‘still like each other (no really).’ They appear to be having just as much fun performing as we are watching, openly laughing at themselves if a particular joke doesn’t land. Somehow the audience laughs harder than if it did.