Phew – What a Fringe! We arrived on 30th July and we left on the 27th August. During that time we saw 158 shows, which was four fewer than I had planned but was thirteen more than last year; and last year we also saw thirteen more than in 2022, however I can’t see that record being broken next year. With Oasis currently scheduled to have three concerts during the Fringe, I can’t even see how half the performers will be able to afford to be in Edinburgh!
Here’s a quick reminder of the 4 and 5 star shows we saw, by star rating and in date order of when we saw them:
5 STARS:
Mhairi Black: Politics Isn’t For Me
Goose’s Quizzes Elimination Game
Casting The Runes
Tarot: Shuffle
Catafalque
Janie Dee’s Beautiful World Cabaret
KAREN
Our Little Secret
The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return
Robin Grainger: Refurb
It’s The Economy, Stupid
For The Love of Spam
I Am George Massey
Emma Sidi is Sue Gray
Pete Heat: Bogus
The Book of Mountains and Seas
MILF and the Mistress
Galahad Takes a Bath
1 Moment in Time (Sean Alexander)
I Am Your Tribute (Sarah-Louise Young)
Garry Starr: Classic Penguins
Josh Jones: Put a Sock in It
Werewolf
Weather Girl
The Bookies
The Scot and the Showgirl
Tom Greaves: Fudgey
4 STARS:
Shellshocked
Sell Me I Am From North Korea
Will Sebag-Montefiore: Will Of The People
Reginald D Hunter: Fluffy Fluffy Beavers
Liam Farrelly: Flipbook
Cabaret of Filth
House of Life
Glitch
Arturo Brachetti: Solo
1 Hour of Insane Magic (After Dark)
Kavin Jay: Unsolicited Advice
Heckling Masterclass with Diploma (Ben Clover)
SILENCE! The Musical
Ascension
Daliso Chaponda: Feed This Black Man Again
Malion
The Last Laugh
A Jaffa Cake Musical
Colin Hoult: Colin
The Shadow Boxer
Rob Auton: The Eyes Open and Shut Show
Pillock
Come Dine With Me: The Musical
Rhys Nicholson: Huge Big Party Congratulations!
Dead Mom Play
The Shroud Maker
N.Ormes
Jack Goes To Therapy
The Gentleman of Shalott
Alexandra Haddow: Third Party
Lads of the Flies
Ajahnis Charley: Thots and Prayers
Dan Tiernan: Stomp
Dissociation
Fifty Minutes to Save the NHS
Martin Rowson: Shred the Front Page
Randy Feltface
If I Live Until I Be a Man
Yes We’re Related
Tales from a British Country Pub
Sherlock Holmes: The Last Act
Nick Schuller: Still Dry White
Chloe Petts: How You See Me, How You Don’t
Finlay Christie: I Deserve This
Joe Wells: Daddy Autism
Lessons on Revolution
One Man Poe: The Black Cat and The Raven
Ryan Cullen: Cullen in the Name of
Leni’s Last Lament
Ghost Light
A Montage of Monet
Naughty or Neurodiverse – Magic from Another Planet (I Am a Mentalist – Angus Baskerville)
Sam See: And I Can’t Feel at Home in this World Anymore
Shower Chair
Notice Box
When Vincent met John
Crime and Punishment
Michael Porter: Love and Brain Damage
Milo Edwards: How Revolting! Sorry to Offend
The Grim
With All My Fondest Love
The Dreamer – Live
An Act of Grace
It’s a Mystery!
September 11 1973: The Day Salvador Allende Died
All The Fraudulent Horse Girls
Stuart Laws Has to be Joking?
Best in Class
The Ghost of White Hart Lane
Kelly Bachman: Patron Saint
What the F*ck Happened to Love and Hope
Phil Henderson: Space Cowboy
Ben Miller: Volcano
Annaliesa Rose Sings the Peter Allen Songbook
Joby Mageean: Titty Icarus
Di(n)e
100% My Type on Paper
Little Deaths
Moscow Love Story
Black Velvet (38 more than last year)
Congratulations to all these great shows. I’m fascinated to discover that, although we saw 13 more shows than last year, I’ve awarded 4 stars to 38 more shows than last year – but 10 fewer 5 stars than last year. Also – unlike last year – no 1 star shows, hurrah! And as to working out which of them are the absolute best – you’ll have to wait until the Chrisparkle Awards for 2024 are announced in January!
And thank you, gentle reader, for sticking with me throughout this busy month! My viewing/reading statistics continue to climb upwards and are about 50% higher than the numbers who checked out my reviews at the 2023 Fringe – so thank you very much for that! And remember – reviews are only what one person thinks, they’re purely a personal reaction. And star ratings are even more unreliable!