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clown, physical theatre

Couac... Physical Comedy

30 JUL - 17 AUG (NOT 6, 11, 12 AUG) - 10:00
In an ultra-connected world, Jo struggles against the omnipresence of Eve, the AI server. Eve directs and controls Jo's every move and pushes him to consume more and more. This wordless show is an invitation to reflect on the place of nature and technology in our lives and the importance of preserving our humanity. Presented in a playful and poetic way, this physical theatre one-man show, combining humour and clowning, resonates particularly well with our hyper-connected society. A unique, funny and touching theatrical experience for all the family.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Doonstairs

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Family-friendly

Lindsey Cole's The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo

30 JUL - 17 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 11:30
Tired of the state of our waterways? So is adventure mermaid Lindsey Cole and she needs your help to wave the big poo right outta her home so Otter can return. The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo is based on Lindsey's popular children's book about her 60km swim adventure down the Bristol Avon with a big poo sculpture, campaigning against sewage pollution. Expect songs, dance, games, a splash of audience improv and a whole dump of fun.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Dram

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storytelling, solo show

Yvonne Hughes: Absolutely Riddled

30 JUL - 15 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 11:30
Absolutely Riddled is a fresh and bold dive into the reality of living with cystic fibrosis (CF) – a journey that's as phlegmy as it is funny. Yvonne shares her absurd story from miracle meds to magazine spreads with a candour rarely found in glossy publications. She's not just "another survivor"; she's a fearless powerhouse embracing the parts of CF that others might shy away from talking about – especially mucus! This stand-up show promises an unapologetic, hilarious take on life, where Yvonne navigates her 50s, transforming from someone barely surviving to fully thriving.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Snug

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improv, comedy

A.L.Ex and the ImproBots: How to Train Your Robot

30 JUL - 17 AUG - 11:40
Hilarious, fast-paced science theatre for the whole family with real robots, games and storytelling. Join the ImproBots in a comically absurd attempt to train their feisty robot A.L.Ex to be the funniest AI in the galaxy. Cutting-edge technology meets improv comedy where kids big and small will delight in the silly world of AI-powered humour and discovery. Will A.L.Ex become the ultimate comedy machine, or will the ImproBots need help from their human friends? Expect laughter, surprises and mind-expanding fun in this singular AI adventure.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Nip

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Science and Technology, spoken word

Mark Thompson's Spectacular Science Show

30 JUL - 10 AUG - 11:45
You think science is boring, think again; this is science like you have never seen it before. Designed for children and adults alike, Mark's Spectacular Science Show explores the strange and magical properties of matter with exploding elephant's toothpaste, vortex-generating dustbins and even howling jelly babies! Awarded Best Kid's Show at Edinburgh Fringe by The Derek Awards, this interactive show promises to entertain and educate in the most spectacular way!

Location Gilded Balloon at the Museum

subvenue Auditorium

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Baxter vs The Bookies by Andy Linden

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 12, 19 AUG) - 13:00
The bets are laid. We're off! Actor Andy Linden (Harry Potter, Count Arthur Strong, The Business, Not Going Out) in a one-man play recounting the fluctuating fortunes of an ageing horse-racing tipster adrift in the modern world of technology. Baxter dreams of one day having a great win and bashing the bookies. But let's face it, no one ever beats The Bookies. Do they? 'A masterclass of thoroughbred character acting' ***** (GetYourCoatsOn.com). 'Mesmeric, the hour passed in an instant, but stays in the memory much longer' **** (NorthWestEnd.com).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Snug

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puppetry, solo show

Not My Grandmother's Daughter

30 JUL - 24 AUG - 13:00
Explores the relationship a young woman has with her mother through the relationship she has with her grandmother. She interconnects the history of their hands through generations with the help of shadow and sound in this love letter through time. After collecting her grandmother's stories, she began to dream up a way to share her grandmother's life and to better understand her own maternal relationship. Through the use of shadow puppetry, which has the ability to bend through space and time, life and death, she found her grandmother's voice and her own.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Eve

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improv

The Cambridge Impronauts

30 JUL - 25 AUG - 13:00
Let Cambridge's best-loved improv troupe set the stage ablaze with a smörgåsbord of hilarious scenes, wacky games and silly capers all completely made up on the spot! In the style of Whose Line Is It Anyway, and featuring guests such as The Cambridge Footlights, The Cambridge Impronauts return for our 9th run at Fringe. Each show is based on your suggestions. No two shows are ever the same! Don't hold back, come let us entertain you with the perfect post-lunch digestif. No script? No rehearsals? No problem.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue The Penny

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Children's Show, comedy

The Improv Musical

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 14 AUG) - 13:00
Returning for our 10th year, smash-hit production The Improv Musical is coming back to take the Fringe by storm. Each show is a completely improvised, never-before-seen musical based on the audience's suggestions! You choose the setting, characters and title, then sit back and watch as our performers bring your suggestions to life – complete with a live band playing totally improvised music! So get your suggestions ready, and come along for an hour of improvised fun for all ages where the show really is in your hands!

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Doonstairs

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absurdist, farce

The Marriage of Alice B Toklas by Gertrude Stein

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 6, 12, 19 AUG) - 13:00
A New York Times Critic's Pick! A marriage farce by Edward Einhorn about Stein and Toklas in which four actors play over 30 characters. Identities are merged and submerged. Their famous salon, with celebrity guests such as Hemingway, Picasso and many others, is the setting for this comic fantasy with serious intent. The lesbian and Jewish subtext of their lives is made text, and the tragic implications of a relationship that existed in their hearts, but could never be fully acknowledged, are explored. Critically acclaimed in New York and London.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Dram

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comedy, compilation

Fast Fringe: Family Edition

30 JUL - 12 AUG & 16 - 17 AUG - 13:15
So many comedians, so little time! In this unmissable Fringe institution, 12 top comedy and variety acts perform ridiculously short sets in one furiously fast-paced showcase, hosted by the best MCs around – and suitable for all the family. There's a different line-up every day, handpicked by Chortle's comedy experts – check the website for daily listings. It's a gloriously entertaining way to sample the festival in bite-sized chunks.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Orchard

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Science and Technology, stand-up

Robin Ince: The Universe and the Neurodiverse

30 JUL - 17 AUG - 13:15
A journey through the minds that populate the planet and may populate the universe beyond. An hour of joy and curiosity with the presenter of the multi award-winning Infinite Monkey Cage. Expect stories of chimpanzees and astronauts, of starlight and falcons. We are the neurodiversity of the universe, a place of many minds and many imaginations. This new show is a celebration of our possibilities in a time when we've given too many platforms to the mean and the bullying, let us elevate those who strive for beauty and camaraderie.

Location Gilded Balloon at the Museum

subvenue Auditorium

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farce, solo show

Lizzy Sunshine

30 JUL - 10 AUG - 13:20
With her co-star unaccounted for, ever positive Lizzy Sunshine carries a vaudevillian double act alone. This show-within-a-show ends with a twist, revealing the farcical fate of addiction's little sister. It's like Glee meets Baby Reindeer... but hot? Your new favorite nightmare, Lizzy Sunshine features: musical numbers, special effects and magic, characters, sermons and gags, bottomless props and boundless energy, audience participation, and take-home rose-colored glasses under your seat. After a sold-out run in NYC and tour of the US, Liz Coin's Lizzy Sunshine makes its Fringe debut!

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Bothie

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spoken word, dance

Dreamscape

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 13:30
Beatboxing, spoken word and hip-hop dance reimagine the true story of the night Californian policemen shot dead nineteen-year-old Tyisha Miller as she lay unconscious in a car. Tyisha's depiction of the innocent pleasures of her life and hopes for the future, told with sweetness, humour and teenage insight contrast with the violence of her death shown in an autopsy report recited by a dispassionate coroner, describing each of her twelve bullet wounds in clinical detail. This highly acclaimed, clear-eyed look at the relationship between race, the body and violence has been performed across the US and the world.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Bramley

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new writing, comedy

Parody of the Rings

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 13 AUG) - 13:30
At the local cinema, all hell breaks loose when the ushers misplace the DVDs of The Lord of the Rings trilogy – every single copy! With only the soundtracks left in hand, the team of hapless ushers must somehow create an entire three-film saga in front of a live audience. Get ready for an uproarious show of comedy, chaos, and utter nonsense, as they attempt to recreate the epic tale of hobbits, elves, and orcs – without any visuals, any planning, or any clue what they're doing.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Other Yin

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satire, comedy

Level Up!

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 14:00
What if life were a game? In a world where billionaires race to colonise space, Trump coins give you extra lives and making cows meditate saves the planet, it can be hard to know if you're winning. Jo, Raff and Bobby are three gamers stuck in the game of life. Jo's into crypto, Raff wants to save the planet and Bobby just wants a quick win. Who has what it takes to Level Up?

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Big Yin

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new writing, comedy

A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 13 AUG) - 14:20
A laugh-out-loud slapstick whodunnit featuring four actors, a dozen characters and a whole load of chaos. When a priceless painting vanishes during a private auction, Detective Stuart Pidcock is brought in to unravel the mystery. But when he finds himself stumped, he must turn to an old adversary for help. The unlikely duo must question the colourful array of suspects living at the manor, all while trying to track down the cunning thief and solve the crime of the century. 'Good clean fun' (TheReviewsHub.com).

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue McIntosh

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interactive, theatre

Aideen McQueen: Waiting for Texto

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 14:20
Waiting for Texto is an electrifying interactive comedy play that captures the raw, universal experience of waiting for a response to your carefully crafted WhatsApp message. Through humour and technology, it explores the frustration of not getting a reply after an unforgettable night. Described as Bridget Jones meets Baby Reindeer, the play offers a fresh, hilarious take on the trials of modern dating, perfect for anyone who's struggled with love and texting in the digital age. If men are such visual creatures, why can't they see my texts?!

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Nip

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solo show, Dark Comedy

The Strongest Girl in the World

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 12, 19 AUG) - 14:20
Gather round the campfire for this funny and nostalgic play about love, loss and summer camp. Truly doesn't remember her dad. Not really. Instead, she's collected songs, objects and stories to build a picture of who he was. Join her as she embarks on a journey to discover her father, and uncovers her childhood self along the way. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll yearn for the early 2000s. Come see this story of fear and bravery that examines how we remember those we've lost.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Snug

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comedy, LGBTQ+

There's Something Seriously Wrong With Cyrus

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 12, 19 AUG) - 14:20
A heartfelt and uplifting one-man show about an Indian-Persian gay man navigating the complexities of his identity. Born to immigrant parents, Cyrus takes audiences on an intimate journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Through dynamic multi media and the celebration of Madonna and Taylor Swift's music, he finds his authentic voice and learns to embrace his cultural heritage and sexuality. With sharp humor and raw vulnerability, Cyrus shares his story of breaking free from expectations, risking authenticity, and ultimately learning to live unapologetically in his truth, celebrating the universal quest for belonging and self-love.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue The Penny

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new writing, comedy

Well Behaved Women

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 13 AUG) - 14:20
It's 1883. Three friends are trying their best to navigate the chaos of their 20s. Marianne wants to be taken seriously. Emma wants to find a husband. Hattie wants to get drunk. When awful aristocrat Chester arrives in town, appearing to hold the keys to all their dreams, they decide the only reasonable plan of attack is to host a fake séance to trick him into helping them. What could possibly go wrong? They're not making history. They are making a bit of a mess of things.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Doonstairs

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stand-up

Sarah Bradley: Just Like Other Girls

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 14:40
After spending her formative years trying to be "not like other girls", Sarah Bradley is celebrating all things feminine – from rosé to romance novels, horoscopes to hot celebrities, inconvenient crushes to crying at inconvenient times. Whatever your gender, you are warmly invited to leave shame, judgement and societal expectations at the door, and come embrace the girly girl within. 'Hilarious... clever and brilliant' (SquirrelComedy.com).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Bothie

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storytelling, theatre

Eden Sher: I Was On A Sitcom

30 JUL - 4 AUG - 14:45
I Was On A Sitcom is a show about finding out who you are when your TV show ends, and your real life begins. Because when you've played a character on TV for a decade, what exactly does it mean to be yourself? This show offers an intimate glimpse into a popular sitcom actor's real, raw life. It's funny, vulnerable and disarmingly casual – you will walk away feeling like you've made a new friend and learned more about birthing twins than you ever did before.

Location Gilded Balloon at the Museum

subvenue Auditorium

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Dark Comedy, Musical Theatre

Potty the Plant

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 12 AUG) - 14:45
A charmingly dark, whimsically adult, joyously subversive, musical delight! Starring our titular character, Potty! A singing, talking, tap dancing, potted plant. When mysterious events begin to occur at Little Boo Boo's General Hospital, a ragtag bunch of dysfunctional nurses must pull together to save the day. What could be happening to all the missing children? Will the beautiful Miss Lacey ever find true love? Is there more to the nasty-looking Dr Acula than meets the eye? Potty The Plant is an hour of side-splitting, earwormy, musical fun, that begs the audience to not take anything too seriously.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Braeburn

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Musical Comedy, LGBTQ+

A Stan Is Born!

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 15:00
Born in New York City as a closeted kid, Alexis is forced to follow his family to... rural Germany. Ugh. Diva down. Discovering women online is his only salvation: Céline, Whitney, Mariah, Beyoncé... you name 'em, he got 'em. They are his MOTHERS and he is OBSESSED. With 10 original songs, sung and played live on keyboard, Alexis shares the queer joy he discovered in stanning, while also confronting the hardships (somehow being obsessed with women makes you... gay?! Wow...) Does this queer Bo Burnham have what it takes to be... a lil gay diva?!

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Blether

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stand-up, LGBTQ+

Gag Race

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11, 18 AUG) - 15:00
The power to judge comedians in the competition that sells out in London every week! Gag Race is unlike any other comedy competition. The comedians perform their best material for you and afterwards, from our app on your phone, you score them out of five for their Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent. Our super computer tallies up all the scores and then we crown the winner of Gag Race based on your scores! Everyone wants the crown but who will win – literally you decide. From The Queer Comedy Club. 'An institution' (Guardian). 'Outrageously funny... inspirational' (Attitude Magazine).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Coorie

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new writing, contemporary

Tilly No-Body

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 15:00
In a deserted circus, drama, humour, music and songs tell the true story of actress Tilly Wedekind and her controlling, famous husband, Frank Wedekind (Spring Awakening). When Frank robs Tilly of her acting roles, he reduces her to a Nobody. Broken-hearted, she attempts suicide. Following her recovery, she reclaims her career, discovers her voice and writes her own story, so Tilly No-Body became a Somebody. This internationally acclaimed, magical, tour-de-force performance about love and identity asks: Why do we stay in relationships long after they've turned toxic? How can we take back our stories after we've been silenced?

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Bramley

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new writing, Dark Comedy

r/Conspiracy

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 12, 19 AUG) - 15:00
r/Conspiracy is a play for messy girls, hungry sleuths, and the chronically online. Alex tumbles headfirst into the rabbit hole when she spots a Reddit thread documenting a man with a machete roaming her local park. But the harder she digs, the deeper she falls... A timely reminder of the flaws of the internet, and a virtual mystery romp for 20-somethings with too much time on their hands, and the weight of the world on their shoulders, r/Conspiracy is written and performed by Ella Hällgren, and directed by Emma Ruse.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Ruby

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improv, theatre

Locomotive for Murder: The Improvised Whodunnit

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 12 AUG) - 15:30
Pinch Punch are back to welcome you aboard Locomotive for Murder, an improvised comedy murder-mystery where killing the cast and cracking the case is in your hands. Expect outrageous accents and shaky alibis! Four characters board a train but not everyone will survive. Thankfully, a world-famous detective is ready to solve the case. But who is the murderer? Only one person knows: the murderer themselves. Using audience suggestions and stories, Pinch Punch create a never-to-be-repeated whodunnit. If you love comedy or murder mysteries then this is the show for you!

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Big Yin

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theatre, Character Comedy

Christian Dart: Gumshoe!

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 12 AUG) - 15:40
A grizzled New York detective embarks on his final, most deadly and most ridiculous case yet. Who did the whodunnit?! Best Show nominee: Leicester Comedy Festival 2025. Finalist: Leicester Square Theatre Sketch-Off! 2025. Semi-finalist: Musical Comedy Awards 2025. 'Christian Dart is one to watch!' (Tim Vine).

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Pip

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comedy, drama

F.U.D.S

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 5, 12, 19 AUG) - 15:40
Stoners. Lazy, irresponsible, paranoid wasters. Or are they? Perhaps deep inside the stoner flats of Scotland three men have the answers to life's greatest questions. Perhaps in this church of debauchery lies something more holy and transcendent than you can possibly imagine. Perhaps the truth of the corruption of our society is only one psychedelic away from being in your fingertips. They are out to get us. They control every aspect of our existence. They are coming for us one by one. Who are they? Come inside and see the truth...

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Nip

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comedy, solo show

Hail Mary, None of the Grace

30 JUL - 24 AUG - 15:40
Mary Kennedy, yes one of those Kennedys, third cousins twice removed; all of the tragedy, none of the money. No Irish Catholic story is complete without a mention of a good Irish funeral! Join Mary as she lays her mother to rest. Through her mother's dying, Mary learned how to live. Hail Mary, None of the Grace is a rollercoaster of awakenings for Kennedy, which has created the woman she is today.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Eve

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stand-up

Njambi McGrath: Revolution

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 15:40
From the Greeks to Tibetans, the French, to Africans fighting for independence, revolutions have been part of the human race from time immemorial. For as long as there's been injustice, oppression, elitism and feudalism, people have always found innovative ways to force those in authority to listen to their cause. Njambi McGrath returns to Edinburgh with a satirical look at notable revolutions, both current and historical.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue The Penny

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comedy, solo show

ROTUS: Receptionist of the United States

30 JUL - 24 AUG - 15:40
Hands up who loves freedom! Chastity Quirke is White House receptionist, ex-Chapter President of Kappa Gamma Zeta, and a proud Republican. She is proud to serve her close personal friend, the President of the United States. Determined to prove her loyalty by any means necessary, she's not letting the icky democrats, her ex-boyfriend, or socialism stand in her way. But when this all-American girl next door is forced to choose between the power of female friendship and proving herself as the ultimate guys' girl, she's horrified to discover she might be a feminist.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Snug

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Musical Theatre

Confessions of a Redheaded Coffeeshop Girl

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 6, 13, 20 AUG) - 16:00
Recent anthropology graduate and feisty redhead Joanie Little is stuck working as a barista, studying the 'creatures' (customers) as if she were Jane Goodall, bushwhacking through the jungle to study chimpanzees! In her 'coffeeshop jungle,' hilarity ensues, with jazzy tunes, co-worker showdowns and maybe even romance! 'Solo performance at its best… rolling out a cast of characters like a wild kingdom field guide! I dare you not to fall in love with Joanie' (LifeWithMoreCowbell.com). As seen on TV. BroadwayWorld.com – Best Musical 2014. Edinburgh Fringe Sell-Out 2015 and in 38 cities worldwide! ***** (CBC).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Doonstairs

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cabaret, magic

PENMAN – The Imaginator – YOU

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11, 12 AUG) - 16:00
From the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to stages across the USA and UK, PENMAN, The Imaginator, takes you on a mind-bending journey beyond your subconscious limits to reveal the remarkable story of YOU: A modern mentalist with the energy of a hip-hop artist, Fraser Penman fuses hypnotism, comedy and audience participation with a high-energy soundtrack of summer anthems. Expect laughter, jaw-dropping moments and a fresh take on mentalism that inspires and astonishes. Unleash your hidden superpowers, rethink what's possible and experience the magic of YOU. Book now – before your mind changes!

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue McIntosh

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clown, physical theatre

Ironing Board Man

30 JUL - 17 AUG (NOT 6 AUG) - 16:15
One man. Ten ironing boards. One epic soundtrack. Prepare to be amazed as physical comedian Jody Kamali skillfully transforms these everyday household items into the tools of a Hollywood-style, action-packed romance. With heart-pounding moments and emotional depth, the packed-out run at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe earned standing ovations. There's gunfire, there's a wedding, there's more gunfire and there's revenge – plus plenty of laughter along the way. 'Exuberantly, unapologetically mindless... it's too funny' (Guardian). 'An astonishing tour de force' (DarkChat.co.uk). 'More laughs than a laundry room full of nitrous oxide and easily amused hyenas' (GetYourCoatsOn.com).

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Braeburn

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stand-up, LGBTQ+

David Ian: Am I Mean?

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11, 18 AUG) - 16:20
With his crowd-work videos generating more than 2.5 million views online, David has honed a special talent for being mean – but where does it come from? And why? Is it who he really is? His friends keep telling him he's mean and it doesn't bother him until one day, some guy says he should be nicer – and that's got David thinking... 'Outrageously funny' (Attitude). 'A true masterclass in crowd work' (NorthWestEnd.com). 'Gloriously filthy' (BroadwayBaby,com). 'Pitch perfect' (Skinny).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Coorie

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stand-up

Hannah Campbell - Me!

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 12 AUG) - 16:20
Some Fringe shows will take you on a deeply personal, sometimes traumatic journey. And whilst they're great, that's just not me. Me! That's what this show is about. No trauma, no ADHD, and my parents are still together. Join me for a hilarious hour of stand-up, packed with razor-sharp punchlines, cheeky stories, and a mischievous edge. Soz babe, it's not that deep. 'Immaculate delivery, unfussy and earthy... an assuredness that feels destined for big theatre tours' (Comedy.co.uk). 'Her comedy is incredibly good' ****½ (One4Review.co.uk).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Blether

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new writing, Dark Comedy

Jumper Bumps

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 12, 19 AUG) - 16:20
What happens when the thing you wished for your whole life turns out to be your worst nightmare? Eris wants a baby. Atlanta doesn't. They're best friends with very different views of motherhood. Eris sees it as a chance to create a better version of herself. Atlanta sees it as the opposite, an end to her freedom. As similar as they are different, their friendship is stretched when Eris finds herself pregnant. The debut play by Amelia Rodger about a woman's right to choose, coercive relationships and female friendship.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Ruby

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Family-friendly, magic

Almost Impossible 2.0: Martin Brock

30 JUL - 24 AUG - 16:30
Back at the Fringe with an electrifying, one-of-a-kind spectacle of slick, mind-bending magic, laugh-out-loud comedy, cutting-edge video production and astonishing illusions – magic like you've never seen before! Top family entertainment! 'Prepare to be spellbound' (StageWhispers.com.au), as Martin Brock delivers 'glamorous and polished work' (Penn & Teller), all created from scratch, with the finale alone taking seven years to perfect! 'His original stuff is wonderful and brilliantly magical' ****½ (GlamAdelaide.com.au). Guaranteed the most thrilling magic you'll experience this festival! 'One of the best Fringe shows I have seen. Go see it!' ****½ (FringeFeed.com.au).

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Bramley

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stand-up, solo show

Alana Jackson: Last Orders

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 17:00
Alana Jackson, winner of So You Think You're Funny? 2024 brings her debut show to the Edinburgh Fringe. Tales of being from Glasgow, moving to London, going to drama school and working/drinking in pubs, Alana tells all, bringing to life the characters she's met along the way. Her winning set at So You Think You're Funny? was described by Chortle as 'relatable and witty, told with impact and flair'. Fest praised how she 'delivered with an amiability reminiscent of a good friend down the pub'.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Pip

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cabaret, magic

Hypnotist Matt Hale - Funbelievable! 90s Rewind

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 13 AUG) - 17:00
Hyp Me Baby One More Time! The unmissable smash-hit comedy hypnotist is back with a 90s party hypnoshow! Multiple sell-out Fringe runs, 150 million+ views online. Enjoy from stage or audience – you choose. All-ages friendly. 'The laughter is uncontrollable!' ***** (FringeFeed.com.au). 'Funfilled show!' ***** (One4Review.co.uk). 'Laugh until your sides hurt!' ***** (WeekendNotes.com). 'Rollicking good time' ***** (SeeDoEatReview.com). 'Spectacular silliness! Absolute feelgood must-see show' ****½ (XPressMag.com.au). Hypnotist Matt Hale is a multi-award winner, seen on Best Shows, Top 10s and Picks of the Fringe.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Big Yin

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storytelling, stand-up

Michael Welch: All Rizz, No Filter

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 8 AUG) - 17:00
Diving headfirst into the chaos of his early 30s, Michael Welch is back with a bold new hour – no edits, no filters, and definitely no luck. 'I am certain this comedian is destined for a Netflix special' ***** (Entertainment-Now.com). 'He's unafraid of pushing his jokes further than many of his contemporaries would dare' ***** (List). 'Welch does what a lot of theatre-goers are after: he helps them find themselves in his own story' (Seagull.news). 'Attracts considerable laughs... and has an impulse to push boundaries' (Scotsman).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue The Penny

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stand-up, Alternative Comedy

Nate Kitch: Something Different!!!!!

30 JUL - 25 AUG - 17:00
2024's Best Newcomer and Malcolm Hardee Award nominee returns, let's see what happens now. (It's sort of about Charlatans, voices and a Rasputin book that, as it stands, I haven't read.) 'A masterclass in ripping up the comedic rulebook and thriving in an environment of total comic chaos' (Entertainment-Now.com). 'Deconstructer of the form, helping you see conventional stand-up's limitations' (Fest). 'Unique..pushing at the edges of what stand-up can be defined as.. is this where the cult begins?' (Chortle.co.uk). 'Transcends mere jokes... go see' (Scotsman). ***** (MervsPOTFringe.com). **** (BeyondTheJoke.co.uk).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Snug

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new writing, comedy

Seating Plan

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 7, 21 AUG) - 17:00
What if you were sat next to the love of your life and just didn't know it? Stuck beside each other at a dinner party year after year. Some would call it fate, Mavis and David call it a nightmare. She's keen. He's terrified. Together, they're trapped. Forced proximity breeds love… and contempt. Think One Day meets Sliding Doors, with a dash of Julia Davis' Nighty Night. A fresh twist on the classic romcom. Seating Plan is a poignant exploration of fate, loneliness and the invisible ties that bind us – even when we're too stubborn to notice.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Nip

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new writing, Dark Comedy

Motorhome Marilyn

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 13 AUG) - 17:30
Michelle Collins makes her Edinburgh Fringe debut in Motorhome Marilyn, a dark comedy by Ben Weatherill. The play follows Denise, an aspiring actress with an obsessive relationship with Marilyn Monroe, hoping to live up to the icon's fame and beauty. In the 1980s, she heads to Hollywood, but as her dreams falter, she is forced to confront the painful truth of unfulfilled aspirations. Inspired by Michelle's real-life encounter with a woman known as Motorhome Marilyn, the play reveals the toll of living in the shadow of an icon, exploring failure, aging, and the heartbreaking cost of unattained dreams.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Doonstairs

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solo show, Character Comedy

Lily Blumkin: Nice Try

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 14 AUG) - 17:40
From The Daily Show's Lily Blumkin comes a hilarious solo show about growing up and getting worse. When packing up her childhood bedroom, Lily introduces us to nine zany characters like a well-meaning dad, a self-indulgent rabbi, and an inanimate clump of hair. After sold out performances in New York, Nice Try comes to Fringe with an honest look at how we use the past to make sense of our present.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Blether

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Family-friendly, magic

1 Hour of Insane Magic

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 5 AUG) - 17:45
After complete sell-outs in 2023 and 2024, Insane Magic (Cameron Gibson, Elliot Bibby and Luke Osey) return with their biggest show yet! Fresh from a smash-hit run at the Adelaide Fringe, the trio bring a brand-new hour of mind-blowing magic, with some fan-favourite classics sprinkled into the mix. Witness 'three of the best magicians in the country' (EdinburghLive.co.uk), in a show that's 'so insanely good' (WorldMagicReview.com), it has to be seen to be believed!

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Orchard

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Alternative Comedy, sketch show

Biscuit Barrel: The 69-Sketch Show

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 13 AUG) - 17:45
69 sketches in an hour! The UK's fastest sketch show returns for its sixth year, featuring new sketches for 2025. 'Non-stop laughs. A wee masterpiece' ***** (TheMumble.uk). 'An excellent comedy show **** (BroadwayBaby.com). Featuring DazzReviews, as seen on YouTube. Whether a slapstick routine told through beatboxing or the typo-based secrets of Area 52, you'll never know what's next! This is the speed of the internet on a stage. 'Most reliable sketch-group in the game' **** (EdFringeReview.com). 'The hit-rate of their sketches is high' (List).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Dram

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solo show, LGBTQ+

Float

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 10, 24 AUG) - 18:00
Join Astronaut Indra on a nine-month mission to the moon... but not all missions are successful. A new autobiographical solo show by Indra Wilson about the lonely, turbulent journey of experiencing pregnancy loss as a queer young person. A black hole forms when a star dies, explodes into tiny little pieces until it returns back to the dust it once was – as if it never even existed in the first place. With dynamic sound and projections, be immersed in this unique, heartfelt and hopeful debut. Produced by award-winning feminist company, F-Bomb Theatre (Fringe First, Sit-Up Award). MadeInScotlandShowcase.com

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Other Yin

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improv, Podcast

Tartan Tabletop: A Dungeons & Dragons Comedy

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 18:00
Calling all Dungeons & Dragons fans! The Tartan Tabletop gang are back after their second sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe. Get ready for improvised comedy at the roll of a dice as our four heroes blunder their way through an adventure like no other – aided by the weird and wonderful Noblin the Goblin, played by a different guest star comedian every night! Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the world of tabletop gaming, this show was made for you. Roll for initiative!

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Bramley

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improv, sketch show

Bad Clowns: Long Live the King!

30 JUL - 17 AUG - 18:20
The king is dead! There are three candidates to succeed him – they can only ascend the throne with support of the local lords and ladies (the audience)! Join the Bad Clowns and shape the future of the entire kingdom! Leicester Comedy Award nominees 2024. ***** (LondonTheatre1.com). ***** (WestEndBestFriend.co.uk). **** (Daily Express). **** (BroadwayBaby.com). **** (ThreeWeeks). **** (BroadwayWorld.com). **** (EdFringeReview.com). **** (TheWeeReview.com). **** (One4Review.co.uk). **** (CultureVulture.net).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Nip

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solo show, Musical Comedy

Colette Gregory: Black Best Friend

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 11, 18 AUG) - 18:20
A hilarious dissection of Black media tropes with satirical sketches, comedic songs and recognisable characters. The Oprah of comedy, Colette Gregory deconstructs sexuality, religion and everything from Black conservatives to Love is Blind contestants. The result is an unforgettable evening of belly laughs, knowing head nods and songs you'll be singing in the shower. Awarded Favourite Sketch or Variety Performance by a Group or Individual at the 2024 Pack Hollywood Festival, Black Best Friend will leave you thinking about what it is to be a token Black face in a predominantly white space.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Snug

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stand-up, Dark Comedy

Sophia Wren: Princess Melancholy

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 18 AUG) - 18:20
Is Sophia performing stand-up comedy or are we just witnessing an acute psychotic episode? Either way, once she's getting attention, she doesn't care. Come and watch a charmingly lewd, self deprecating and 'delulu' grown woman who insists on dressing like a princess as she explores her experiences with men, Irishness, body image, feminism, unexpected motherhood and the cruel and vulgar reality of being in a human body, all tinged with a nihilistic and self-destructive dread that underpins her every thought. Finalist, So You Think You're Funny 2024.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Eve

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comedy, historical

Jackie!!!

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 18:30
Sex, drugs and coercive control... Jackie!!! is a new musical comedy that follows the young Jacqueline Bouvier as she dreams of becoming the first American Royal. After marrying into the illustrious Kennedy dynasty, Jackie discovers that power and notoriety come with the price of secrecy and silence. With Joe Kennedy pulling the strings, Jackie's sister Lee pulling away and JFK pulling anything that moves, Jackie is left alone to contemplate if life atop the American throne is really worth the familial curse that seemingly hangs over it.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Big Yin

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clown, solo show

Jacob Aldcroft: The Day I Got the Horn

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 13 AUG) - 18:40
John Binjuice lived a quiet life, until everyone in his town suddenly transformed into terrifying beasts. With horns. Big, scary horns. John has, so far, resisted the horn. How long can his humanity last? A riotous solo clown show from Jacob Aldcroft – 'He has funny legs' (Philippe Gaulier) – watch as John attempts to save all humanity through lots of shouting, running and jumping, song, dance and stunning amounts of vodka. Prepare to laugh (a lot), cry (a bit) and pee (your pants).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Bothie

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solo show, Neurodiversity-led

Juliette Burton: Best of Burton

30 JUL - 8 AUG - 19:00
Celebrate Gilded Balloon's 40th anniversary with award-winning comedian Juliette Burton. Get in the party spirit with this Gilded gal, as she brings the best bits from her multiple sold-out Edinburgh Fringe shows. Cram over a decade of fringe into one jubilant hour of life-affirming hilarity with heart. Join in the joy of Juliette. As seen on BBC One and ITV. 'Seriously funny' ***** (Mirror). 'Educational, hilarious' ***** (EdFestMag.com). ***** (StarburstMagazine.com). ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). ***** (VoiceMag.uk). ***** (FemaleArts.com). ***** (LoveFringe.com). ***** (Daily Record). **** (Sunday Express). 'Fringe Favourite' (Guardian). 'Fringe legend' (FringeReview.co.uk). 'Refreshingly revealing' (Comedy.co.uk).

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Ruby

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interactive, stand-up

Married at Fringe Sight

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11, 18 AUG) - 19:00
An exciting crowd-work show where the audience decide who gets married today, by the end of the show! You have the power, using our app, to decide who is getting married! Our comedians will find out what the audience is really like while you get to decide who makes the perfect pairing and decide who is going to get Married at Fringe (first) Sight! From the team that The Guardian called 'an institution' and Attitude Magazine called 'hilariously funny... inspirational'. 'A true masterclass in crowd work' (NorthWestEnd.co.uk). Don't forget your hat!

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Coorie

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new writing, comedy

PALS

30 JUL - 12 AUG (NOT 7 AUG) - 19:00
Female-led and female-produced, PALS is a Scottish adventure-comedy play telling the story of four, crude, chaotic yet completely normal gal pals as they embark on a camping trek in the west of Scotland. In a bid to escape their lives, have a riotous time and avoid several mental breakdowns, these "Perfectly Average Lassies of Scotland" are completely out of their depths, in more ways than one. PALS premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe 2024 and was long-listed for the Binge Fringe Queer Performers Award and deemed as 'the sort of show we've been waiting for' (CorrBlimey.co.uk).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Doonstairs

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comedy, Musical Theatre

Arthur Hull's FLOP

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 12, 19 AUG) - 19:15
The best songs from the worst musicals ever written! The neon lights aren't always bright on Broadway, and for every hit there are 50 flops. Rising Australian star Arthur Hull's acclaimed solo show sets out to prove that every musical can be proud of at least one song. Winner of the 2025 Adelaide Fringe Best Emerging Artist Award. 'Hull is a force of nature. An absolute joy!' ***** (List). 'Unforgettable and hilarious, a wonderful concept with clever delivery and genuine heart' ***** (SeeDoEatReview.com). 'A superstar in the making' ***** (OnYourMarkus.au).

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Braeburn

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drama

Samia Rida: Kidnap

30 JUL - 10 AUG - 19:15
Samia Rida's one-woman show is a comedy/drama based on the true story of her kidnap to Saudi as a child. It explores multiculturalism, disability, Saudi, mental health and how kidnap can involve a swimming pool. Supported by the charity Sibs. Supported by the BBC Comedy Collective and Funny Women. It's been on at Riverside Studios, The Tabard, The Museum of Comedy and the White Bear. Optioned for TV adaptation by Fulwell 73. Directed by Gareth Edwards – BBC producer (That Mitchell and Webb Look, Upstart Crow and Spaced). Producer Gina Lyons – A BAFTA Elevate producer.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Dram

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stand-up

Kim Blythe: Cowboy

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 19:30
Kim Blythe is a cowboy – not the rugged, western kind but more like a questionable tradesman. Unsure and thriving after selling out the Glasgow International Comedy Festival, Kim brings her second show Cowboy to the Fringe as she tries to make sense of it all. If you feel like you're constantly winging it through life, then Cowboy is the show for you! If you don't feel like that, it's still a great show I promise.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Other Yin

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stand-up, Musical Comedy

Michelle Brasier: It's a Shame We Won't Be Friends Next Year

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 13 AUG) - 19:30
A boy in school set my destiny with nine words, I'm gonna ask him why. Another hilarious and heartbreaking show from 'one of Australia's finest storytellers' ***** (GlamAdelaide.com.au). Brasier takes aim at the idea of criticism in this ode to the drama teacher that made her and the kid who said something mean at school. She's tracking down her critics to ask them why they said what they said. A show for the theatre kids, the freaks, the queers; for anyone who's spiralled about something they did years ago.

Location Gilded Balloon at the Museum

subvenue Auditorium

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stand-up, Dark Comedy

Brendan Tran: HOLE IN THE WALL L'HOPITAL

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 11, 18 AUG) - 19:40
If you've ever experienced loss, then this show was made for you. Brendan Tran, a Bob Curry Fellow from the world-renowned Second City comedy troupe in Chicago, pays tribute to his recently passed dad with this comedy special. A stand-up story of grief, the healthcare system and the hope that talking (and joking) about the death of a loved one can possibly help with healing. Only time will tell. 'Tremendous. So funny and touching, and relatable' (John Hartman from CBS's Ghosts).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue The Penny

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compilation, stand-up

Christopher Donovan and Laurie Brewster: Fun With Bad Boys

30 JUL - 25 AUG - 19:40
Christopher Donovan and Laurie Brewster present a split hour of stand-up as they try to rebrand themselves as the bad boys of comedy. Christopher brings anecdotal comedy, rich in detail and delivered with panache that earned him second place in So You Think You're Funny? 2023. 'Has a flair with words' (Chortle.co.uk). Laurie brings a dry, surreal brand of humour that saw him make it to the final of So You Think You're Funny? 2024. 'Proper jokes, coloured by self-deprecation' (Chortle.co.uk).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Snug

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improv, interactive

Improbotics Presents: RoboTales

30 JUL - 17 AUG - 19:40
An improvised choose-your-own adventure, featuring actors, a cute robot host and AI, where the audience controls the show! By award-winning Improbotics who created Artificial Intelligence Improvisation. 'Like Whose Line Is It Anyway? mixed with I, Robot' (BrightonAndHoveNews.org). ***** (TheatreAndTonic.co.uk). **** (Everything-Theatre.co.uk) 'Groundbreaking work with superb moments of comedy that poses serious philosophical questions' (FringeReview.co.uk). Most Innovative Show Award (ParisFringe.org, 2020). ****(BingeFringe.com). ***** (ThePhoenixRemix.com). **** (FringeTheatre.ca) 'I will stick with artificial stupidity' (Colin Mochrie). Featured in the New York Times, Financial Times, New Scientist, Time, Sky News and BBC.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Nip

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comedy, Musical Comedy

Girl Pop!

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 12, 19 AUG) - 20:00
The biggest girl group of the noughties reunite for the first time since their scandalous split. The quartet's meteoric rise saw them transform from innocent pop-princess underdogs to glamourous big-budget divas... before it fell spectacularly apart. Girl Pop! are finally ready to tell all. Were Hazel and Arabella secretly in love? Did Ruby and Zoe's feud end in a fistfight? Did Girl Pop! really murder a paparazzi photographer? The promise of a nostalgic celebration of girl power is threatened by egos, catfights and spotlights. Rumours are put to rest through a showstopping spectacle bursting with iconic pop bangers!

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Big Yin

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Saaniya Abbas – Hellarious

30 JUL - 25 AUG - 20:00
Saaniya Abbas takes audiences on her most personal and side-splitting journey yet in Hellarious. With sharp insights and her signature feline mischief, Saaniya dives into the cultural taboos of divorce, the absurdity of internet fame, and her playful take on the concept of hell itself. She reminds us that life isn't about always landing on your feet – it's about laughing when you don't. Tracing her evolution from a sheltered upbringing in a Muslim family to carving out her own path, Hellarious is a bold celebration of resilience, defiance, and self-discovery.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Bothie

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storytelling, stand-up

Mark Forward Presents Safari Time

30 JUL - 25 AUG - 20:20
You will learn nothing at this show. Comedian Mark Forward returns to the Fringe for the 3rd time with his ridiculously silly show Safari Time. Mark has done John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show (Comedy Central), The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS), Funny As Hell (HBO) and Just For Laughs. TV work includes Hulu comedy series Letterkenny, Donny Mashman on Fargo (FX) and The Jon Dore Television Show. Mark has two specials: Mark Forward presents Mark Forward and Mark Forward Wins All the Awards.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Coorie

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compilation, stand-up

Best of So You Think You're Funny?

30 JUL - 25 AUG - 20:45
An unmissable line-up of fresh talent starring Bert Broadbent, Fab Goualin, and Ciara O'Connor – finalists from the UK's biggest new comedy competition! See the best emerging comedians before they become household names. Previous winners and finalists from the competition include: Aisling Bea, Tommy Tiernan, Maisie Adam, Peter Kay, Lee Mack, Fern Brady, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Sara Pascoe, Daniel Sloss and many more. 'Showcasing the stand-up stars of the future' (Comedy.co.uk).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Dram

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spoken word

Joe Sib: California Calling

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 21:00
A story of growing up on a punk rock-fuelled journey. A unique comedian, Sib blends stand-up and storytelling like no one else, sharing raw, relatable tales from the 1980s suburbs to stages with Metallica, The Ramones and Social Distortion. Growing up in California, Sib saw punk rock explode into the suburbs, shaping his life. From fronting Wax and 22 Jacks to co-founding SideOneDummy Records. This unforgettable show is personal and raw. An inspiring journey. 'Joe Sib's show is a cross between theatre, memoir and a loogie in the eye' (LA Times).

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Pip

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stand-up

Molly McBride and Mariah Bowden: Toxic Femininity

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 12 AUG) - 21:00
Molly and Mariah are two of the biggest names on the newcomer circuit, and also the biggest c*nts. A feisty, fierce and filthy look inside the mind of two outstandingly toxic ladies.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Snug

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Family-friendly, Alternative Comedy

Patrick Monahan: The Good, the Pat and the Ugly

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 21:00
Cancel culture is fast approaching. What can/can't you say? What is there left to say? And everything in between. Stand-up comedy, in a sit-down world! 'Monahan is somewhat of a legend in Fringe terms.. A loveable, likeable comic.... he loves to entertain and make his audience laugh. And he always succeeds' ****½ (One4Review.co.uk, Edinburgh Fringe 2024). 'Patrick Monahan is a great comic' **** (BroadwayBaby.com). 'Definite must see!' **** (Edinburgh Festivals Magazine). 'Hilarious without being outrageous' ***** (ThreeWeeks).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Nip

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stand-up, solo show

Shamik Chakrabarti: Despite Appearances

13 & 20 Aug (16:00), 13 - 18 Aug (19:00)
Never judge a book by its cover. Not many people know this, but that sentence is an idiom and not really about books. It literally means – never judge a person by their face. You might think Shamik's face belongs to a sensible, practical man. You'd be wrong. He's not the responsible older sibling. He's not good at chess. He's not a nerd. At least, not in a useful way. Despite Appearances is an effort to put things right and break away from shallow, face-driven stereotypes. But you should just watch it for a laugh.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Eve

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Musical Theatre, LGBTQ+

Midnight at the Palace

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 12, 19 AUG) - 21:30
Living your true self is nearly a crime again, so join the OGs of F*ck You Counterculture for a night of radical joy and glitter-encrusted anarchy. A fever dream of gender-bending hippies, freaks and drag queens, led by flowers-in-guns radical Hibiscus and disco diva Sylvester, The Cockettes took San Francisco by storm in 1969. But when they tried to take their acid-fuelled, avant-garde act mainstream in NYC, it all went horribly wrong. A new musical exploding with on-your-feet numbers and in-your-face hilarity, demolishing the lines between art and showbiz, politics and performance.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Big Yin

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improv, Game Show

John Robertson's The Dark Room

30 JUL - 24 AUG - 22:00
The audience is trapped in a retro video game with a sadistic, end-of-level boss. Escape and win £1000 or be brutally murdered by the rest of the crowd! Will you: A) Find the light switch? B) Go north? C) Abandon hope? New deathtraps for 2025! 'A Rocky Horror for nerds... reader, I howled' **** (Telegraph). 'Not to be missed' (Guardian). 'Irresistibly dangerous' **** (Stage). Winner: Chortle Award. Nominated: Best Comedy, FringeWorld 2023. Runner-up: Best Comedy, NextUp 2022. As seen at Glastonbury, PAX, Blue Dot and MCM Comic Con.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Doonstairs

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solo show

Leo Still Dies in the End

30 JUL - 15 AUG - 22:00
It's been 84 years… or 26, since April 1999, when six-year-old Alice was finally allowed to watch James Cameron's classic, Titanic, on VHS. Presenting a one-woman parody re-enactment of Titanic in which Alice plays all the parts and the scenes are selected at random (but with the same emotional gravitas, she swears). In this show about how childhood obsessions shape who we are as adults, nostalgia for aging '90s media, and claims of boats too big to sink, you'll laugh, you'll cry, your heart will go on (even though Jack's does not!).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Dram

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music, comedy

Accordion Ryan's Pop Bangers

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 6, 12, 19 AUG) - 22:20
Britain's Got Talent star Accordion Ryan will sing and play your favourite songs like you've never heard them before! Adding in a few of his own hilarious tunes, this show is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face! Join in and sing along during this night of music, laughter and overall fun! 'Don't miss this show' ***** (PerthHappenings.com.au). 'An all-singing, all-dancing PARTY' ****½ (TheQR.co.uk). 'Musical comedy gold' **** (List). 'You're funny, I like you' (Simon Cowell). Winner: Overall Best Cabaret (Fringe World). Winner: Weekly Best Cabaret (Adelaide Fringe).

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Eve

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stand-up, LGBTQ+

Best of the Queer Fringe

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11, 18 AUG) - 22:20
A mixed bill line-up of the best LGBTQ+ stand-up comedians from across the Fringe from the UK's first LGBTQ+ stand-up comedy club, The Queer Comedy Club. Fresh from our two TV series on OUTtv we're bringing you an incredible line-up of different queer comedians every night, including TV comedians and rising stars. In the past we've had Larry Dean, Sarah Keyworth, Kemah Bob, Felicity Ward and more! You never know who you're going to see! ''Inspirational' (Attitude). 'An institution of London's LGBTQ+ scene' (Guardian).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Nip

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Musical Comedy, Character Comedy

Douglas Widick: Paperclip

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 19 AUG) - 22:20
Microsoft Word's writing assistant, Clippy, has seen the future – and it is bleak. Determined to prevent the impending techno-dystopia brought about by Artificial Intelligence, Clippy travels back in time to warn humanity in a thrilling adventure through the internet. Will he succeed in stopping AI at its source? There's only one way to find out... Douglas Widick (Time Out NY's Top 10 Comedy Show: North Coast; Blank! The Musical; F#%king Up Everything; and Anybody: An Improvised Historical Hip-Hopera) makes his UK debut in this award winning one-person comedy musical. Winner: Best Out-of-Town Show – Tucson Fringe.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue The Penny

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stand-up, solo show

Anais Gralpois: American Fetish

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 12 AUG) - 22:40
Comedian Anaïs Gralpois Bridget Jones' her way into talking about her move to London, having a slag era and what it really means to be more than just that fit American in this candid one-woman stand-up comedy show.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Bothie

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comedy, circus

Broken Planet Show

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11, 18 AUG) - 23:00
The absurd cabaret of apocalyptic proportions. Comedy, circus and indie cosmic lunacy collide in an ever-changing nightly riot of world-class weirdos, hellbent on healing our planetary divide. Interactive, uplifting, subversive and bonkers. Featuring Clown God, Mothman, Fart Monkey, Nerf Karaoke and outlandish acts from across the Fringe, with a live-looped indie score morphing every night. Broken Planet Show dares you to misbehave, laugh at our flaws and dance through the chaos – uniting us in glorious imperfection. It's a rowdy invitation to take life less seriously. Join the revolution of ridiculousness. COME SAVE WORLD!

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Big Yin

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Alternative Comedy, Dark Comedy

Dead Man Talking

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11, 18 AUG) - 23:00
Comedians Elliot Weber (Dead Dad) and Joshua Emerson (Dead Mom) want to make you laugh with jokes about death and grief. Dead Man Talking is a stand-up comedy show about the lighter side of death, interspliced with improvised eulogies from crowd submissions. A person dies twice: once when their heart stops beating and again when they are forgotten. Let us share a laugh together about a loved one you miss. Special guests and surprises every show.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Ruby

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improv, Game Show

IKEA WARS

30 JUL - 25 AUG - 23:00
It's time to enter the flat pack thunderdome! Two Fringe performers go head-to-head in the ultimate home improvement indignity – building IKEA furniture. The challenge is simple: build the piece of furniture before your opponent does. Is it a race? Yes! Is it a game show? Also, yes! A plethora of chaotic sabotages are on hand to ensure that the road to glory is paved with pitfalls! Build the furniture. Survive the sabotages. Be crowned the Champion of Sweden!* *title not officially recognised by the Swedish government. Let's build!

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Coorie

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theatre, Family-friendly

Baby Shark and the Mystery of the Sphinx

31 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 6 - 7, 11 - 12, 18 - 20 AUG) - 10:30
Doo doo doo... Baby Shark's back with a globe-trotting mystery! Who nabbed the Sphinx? Help Fiddlefox and Baby Shark crack the case in this interactive musical adventure. Dance, sing, and play along as our dynamic duo swims around the world with magical host, Eldar. Perfect for tiny detectives aged 0-6. A fin-tastic show packed with music, magic and mayhem! Previous Fringe sell-out – book early! 'Designed for kids, by kids, this high-energy show keeps kids guessing and parents smiling' ****½ (Fringefeed, FringeWorld.com.au).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Other Yin

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blues, swing

The Jive Aces

31 JUL - 8 AUG - 12:00
The UK's no 1 jive and swing band, renowned for high-energy swinging sounds and spectacular stage show. Performed in 40+ countries. Played for the Queen. Worked with Van Morrison and John Travolta. Starred at Royal Albert Hall, Buckingham Palace, Kennedy Center, Glastonbury and voted Best Band at Boisdale Music Awards. Their award-winning video, Bring Me Sunshine, has 3.8m views and is so uplifting it's been prescribed by a doctor! The first live band to reach the final rounds of Britain's Got Talent. 'Absolutely brilliant!' (Simon Cowell). 'Simply sensational' (Stage).

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Bramley

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comedy, Musical Theatre

The Steamie

31 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11, 12, 18, 19 AUG) - 12:00
Through everyday conversation, hilarious comedy, and music-hall style songs, we learn from four working-class women about their lives, husbands, technology and the approaching New Year in this time capsule of Glasgow in the 1950s. The show pays tribute to the unsung domestic labour of women, and the importance of female friendships – both of which keep it relevant today – along with the iconic comedy lines recited throughout Scotland. Laugh and cry along with Tony Roper's loveable characters in this nostalgic show, steeped in Scottish culture and social history, which continues to entertain local audiences and tourists alike.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Big Yin

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theatre, Musical Comedy

Mr Woody's Last Lesson: Confessions of a Teacher

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11, 12, 18, 19 AUG) - 16:00
Buckle up, folks. After 23 years of holding it together, this teacher is finally off duty... and off the rails. A classroom meltdown like no other – unhinged rants, bad decisions, and a music lesson with more chaos than a school camp. Expect mischievous puppets and brutally honest comedy from a burnt-out teacher on the edge. If you've ever wanted to tell a helicopter parent to zip it, this show is for you! Warning: Explicit language and the kind of storytelling that makes a 4pm staff meeting almost tolerable.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Bothie

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international

Best Cult Ever: Leah Renee

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 12, 18 AUG) - 17:40
Surprise-filled, punchline dense comedy: Best Cult Ever is the show for the cult curious. Polygamy? More like Polyga-WEEEE! Hold on to your name tags! Get on in here for the silliest show written and performed by a former Mormon. A comedian returning for her fourth Edinburgh Fringe, Leah Renee's past shows have been described as: funny, daring and quite surprising in places with laugh-out-loud moments of wryness, poignancy, shock and tenderness.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Ruby

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revue, Musical Comedy

I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical

31 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 6, 13, 20 AUG) - 17:45
Award-winning musical comedy revue revealing all about musicals and the people who love them – on both sides of the curtain! Updated for 2025 with new songs. Lauded with an unprecedented 50 five-star reviews for multiple sell-out Fringe and London seasons. By Alexander S Bermange, directed and choreographed by Aaron Renfree (The Masked Singer, Now That's What I Call A Musical). 'Flawless' ***** (BritishTheatre.com). 'Sharp satire... undiluted fun' ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). 'Delightful' ***** (BroadwayWorld.com). 'Hilarious... wonderfully witty!' ***** (EdinburghGuide.com). 'Crisp, perfect, immaculate' ***** (MusicalTalk, podcast). 'Full of wit and pastiche' ***** (TheArtsDesk.com).

Location Gilded Balloon at the Museum

subvenue Auditorium

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compilation, stand-up

Late'n'Live

31 JUL - 25 AUG - 23:00
The original late-night show returns with stellar line-ups of your favourite acts from the festival, hosted by the best MCs in the country, every single night of the Fringe. 'The best late-night show on the Fringe' (Scotsman). 'A Fringe institution for a reason' (TheRecs.co.uk). Previous acts include Johnny Vegas, Bill Bailey, Rich Hall, Jason Byrne, Mawaan Rizwan, John Bishop, Larry Dean, Maisie Adam, Reuben Kaye, Jordan Grey, Viggo Venn and just about every notable name in comedy. Late'n'Live guarantees an unforgettable night of live comedy and is an essential addition to any Fringe bucket list.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Other Yin

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music, interactive

Woody's Bush Cabaret – for Kids!

1 - 24 AUG (NOT 11, 12, 18, 19 AUG) - 10:20
Word's out on the Aussie bush telegraph: Woody and his crazy friends are rolling out a cabaret experience like no other! Sing, dance, and strum along in a wild musical adventure reminiscent of a Year 3 campfire singalong or a school assembly where the principal's only rule is to have fun. It's packed with silly songs, chaotic comedy and Aussie critters galore. But kids, watch out for Ralph the Tiger Snake in the dangerous part of the show! Woody's Bush Cabaret from Down Under unites families in a heartfelt celebration of music and imagination.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Dram

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improv, theatre

ShakeItUp: The Improvised Shakespeare Show

1 - 25 AUG - 15:00
Shakespeare hasn't written anything new for an age, so we thought we would give him a hand... Using your audience suggestions and our overactive imaginations, we create a brand-new Shakespeare play live on stage, complete with live music, songs and plenty of laughs. Join ShakeItUp for bard-based bedlam! 'Quick-witted, inexhaustible and absolutely hysterical' ***** (LondonTheatreReviews.co.uk). 'Brilliantly bonkers! One of the best improvised shows at the Fringe' ***** (WestEndBestFriend.co.uk).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Other Yin

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Character Comedy

Jack Docherty in The Chief – Still No Apologies

1 - 17 AUG - 19:00
BAFTA award-winning star of Scot Squad, The Chief, and Absolutely, returns to the Fringe after a 2024 sell-out run. Favourite bits, classic bits, improvised bits and bits that aren't even really bits but are, nonetheless, still bits. 'An incredible hour of laughs' (Edinburgh Evening News). 'It's simply impossible not to love what he does on stage' (Scotsman). 'Masterful, superlative' (Chortle.co.uk). 'A hugely talented comic performer' (Sunday Times). 'Docherty's mighty presence fills the room' (ThreeWeeks). 'A maverick genius' (Herald). ***** (Daily Business) **** (Guardian). **** (List). **** (Evening Standard). **** (Skinny).

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue McIntosh

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storytelling, stand-up

Michael Elsener: How to Live in Paradise

1 - 21 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 20:20
Who doesn't dream of it? Clean cities, punctual trains, a functioning healthcare system – everyday life in Switzerland, for many a world far away. Luckily, Michael Elsener, the "Swiss John Oliver" and recent support act for Russell Howard, is here to reveal the path to paradise – and where the Swiss heaven turns into hell. The political scientist and queer artist delivers off-beat perspectives and spot-on impressions, combining incisive analysis with razor-sharp punchlines. Can his secret Swiss recipe save the world?

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Ruby

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improv, Family-friendly

The Oxford Imps

4 - 24 AUG - 13:40
A fun, fast-paced comedy show, made up entirely on the spot from your suggestions! The Imps have been bringing critically acclaimed improv performances and up-and-coming comedic talent to the Fringe for over ten years. These high-energy shows come packed with Whose Line Is It Anyway?-style games, brought to life by Oxford's wittiest minds. Be prepared for improvised scenes, punning, raps, Shakespeare, musicals and much more! Perfect for teens and families.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Ruby

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drama, verbatim

Managed Approach

8 - 24 AUG (NOT 15 AUG) - 13:40
In 2014, the UK's first legalised red-light district opened in the Holbeck area of Leeds. Sex workers in Holbeck were able to operate with police supervision and without fear of arrest between the hours of 8pm and 6am. This initiative was known as the Managed Approach. Managed Approach is a powerful play that blends verbatim interviews with sex workers and a fictional story about a mother and daughter in Holbeck, Leeds. A 'joyous show' ***** (Varsity) that offers a deeply human perspective on one of the UK's most controversial urban policies.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Coorie

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Mhairi Black: Work in Progress

9 - 24 AUG - 12:00
Following her sold-out Fringe run and a smash-hit tour, MP-turned-comedian Mhairi Black returns with some fresh material. 'Political catharsis at its absolute finest' (BroadwayBaby.com). 'Quick, funny and brilliant' (ThreeWeeks). NextUp Biggest Award in Comedy nominee.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Bramley

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comedy, stand-up

James Campbell's Comedy 4 Kids: Reducks

11 - 17 AUG - 11:30
James invented the idea of proper stand-up for children in 2001. For the last ten years he has mainly been concentrating on writing funny books and parenting his own children. Now he is bored of that and returns to the world of festivals to reboot comedy for kids with a face full of wrinkles and a reconstructed show that may include exploding penguins, seventeen ways to eat jam and songs to sing to the worms in your dog's bottom.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Doonstairs

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sketch show, Character Comedy

Jess Carrivick: For Your Consideration

11 - 25 AUG - 13:20
A character comic 'gearing up to conquer' (Dawn French). In 2024, her WIP Attention Seeker was a ***** 'masterclass' (GetYourCoatsOn.com) at the Edinburgh Fringe. This BAFTA Rocliffe shortlist writer hosts the sell-out night Laugh Lines and is a Sketch Off 2025 finalist. Her debut solo hour, directed by Elf Lyons, takes you back to when stories were for family, not viral views. Inspired by her own home movies, Jess creates a universe of characters once meant for her living room. Each vignette is a cinematic tribute to her dressing-up box.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Bothie

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a cappella

Aquapella

11 - 23 AUG (NOT 18 AUG) - 16:15
Fresh from their acclaimed performances across the UK and on Broadway, Aquapella is back at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for their ninth consecutive year, ready to captivate audiences once again. With breathtaking harmonies, unique arrangements and boundless energy, this award-winning a cappella group brings an electrifying mix of vocal music to the stage. Whether delivering heart-wrenching ballads or upbeat pop anthems, their passion and precision make for an unforgettable viewing experience. From moments of raw vulnerability to pure exhilaration, Aquapella takes audiences on an emotional journey like no other. 'Forget Pitch Perfect, Aquapella are the real deal' (TheWeeReview.com).

Location Gilded Balloon at the Museum

subvenue Auditorium

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stand-up

Christopher Hall: Work in Progress

11 - 24 AUG - 19:15
After touring the UK and Ireland last year with his debut hour, Girl for All Seasons, Christopher is working on a new show – a new show everyone, can you believe it, a new show! Right now, it's a work in progress. I mean, in a lot of ways, aren't we all works in progress? Think about it. He'll say things today that he's never said before, and most likely will never say again, but you'll be there to witness it, and that's kismet. Ooh, that's a great name for a show... Write that down...

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Dram

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compilation, stand-up

So You Think You're Funny? Competition – Heats

13 Aug (16:00 & 19:00) 14- 18 Aug (19:00) 20 Aug (16:00)
The search for comedy's next big star continues as contestants battle for a place in the Grand Final of the UK's biggest newcomer competition! Following months of regional showcases across the UK and Ireland, see the future faces of comedy before they make it big! 'Showcasing the stand-up stars of the future' (Comedy.co.uk). Previous winners and finalists from the competition include Aisling Bea, Tommy Tiernan, Maisie Adam, Peter Kay, Lee Mack, Fern Brady, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Sara Pascoe, Daniel Sloss and more.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Doonstairs

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improv

Looking for Laughs

13 - 25 AUG - 20:20
'It's real, it's raw, it's hilarious' (Scotsman). Featured on BBC Scotland. It's Love Island meets Whose Line Is It Anyway. Two singles are blindfolded. Will it be love at first sight or a slow-motion car crash? One blind date. Four comics. Unscripted, unhinged, unforgettable. 'A jackpot for people watchers' (USAToday.com).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Blether

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stand-up, theatre

Thirty, Flirty and Dying

13 - 25 AUG - 22:20
Beth and Rhoni are dead. Joking! They're 30. But please don't mention it. Friends since they hopped off the train at Liverpool Lime Street with a dream and a side fringe, they've seen each other through every ill-informed fashion, relationship, and life choice. Never ones to back down from theatricality, this stand-up split hour is a nostalgic trip through 2015-2025 for anyone who is 30, has been 30, or dreads turning 30 – complete with photographic evidence and confessions. What better way to commemorate the moments that make them die with embarrassment than a funeral?

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Snug

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new writing, live music

Mary: A Gig Theatre Show

14 - 21 AUG - 21:00
Through powerful original music and spoken word, a folk-rock band retells Mary Queen of Scots' story. The bold gig theatre show searingly questions what Mary faced at the hands of men, offering a mesmerising and riotous response. The hit show is back for 2025, following acclaimed sold-out runs at the 2024 Fringe and the Traverse Theatre in December. 'Superbly anarchic' **** (Scotsman). 'A fifty-minute riot' **** (Herald). 'A big night in a small room' **** (Stage). 'Stunning music and beautiful storytelling come together impeccably' ***** (TheatreAndTonic.co.uk).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Other Yin

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multimedia, Game Show

Hot Rubber

15 - 16 AUG - 23:30
Eight comedians pit their homemade remote-control cars against one another in the world's smallest demolition derby. The winner of each race takes one step closer to glory, the loser has their car smashed with a baseball bat. The cult-hit show returns to Gilded Balloon, hosted by Hudson Hughes and Imogen Truselle with live music from Formula One Direction.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Doonstairs

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cabaret, LGBTQ+

Mark T Cox: Paddy Daddy

16 - 19 AUG - 22:00
Paddy Daddy returns... Four nights only! Join very busy, very famous international cabaret star Mark T Cox for a juicy hour of comedy, filth and pop bangers, exploring the joys and horrors of contemporary gay life in rural Ireland. Tales of school scandals, secret affairs, and too many late-night kisses in a Ford Fiesta. With original music and pop icons – J Lo, Kylie, and of course, The Corrs. One for the gays, the girlies, and your newly woke Irish Mammy. 'Gloriously camp cabaret' **** (Irish Times).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Dram

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Fred MacAulay in Conversation

18 - 24 AUG - 13:15
Fred MacAulay, one of Scotland's best-loved stand-ups, is back with his live chat show. Joining Fred each day will be stars from the worlds of sport, entertainment, business and politics – the colourful characters he has encountered along the way in his illustrious 30-year career. 'I so enjoyed In Conversation last Fringe,' said Fred, 'it was the perfect mix of guests and audience, who helped make each show truly unique.' Featuring different guests every day, including returning favourites from 2017-19. 'Brilliantly surreal comedy' (Scotsman). 'One of the best comedians Britain has produced' (Richard Osman).

Location Gilded Balloon at the Museum

subvenue Auditorium

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political, stand-up

Abigail Rolling: Shit Lawyer

18 - 25 AUG - 18:20
Dark. Funny. Underfunded. And that's just Abby. The criminal justice system is too. After thirty years practicing criminal defence law, Shit Lawyer returns to give unsolicited advice to the Government in its search for bold and innovative approaches to "speed up justice" and "keep streets safe". Can her outrageous and unorthodox suggestions reverse the crisis in our courts?

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Nip

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drama

Rodney Black: Who Cares? It's Working

18 - 25 AUG - 19:40
In the comedy world, where controversy is king, when does the joke stop being funny? Rodney Black's career is booming, thanks to a money-hungry manager and the seemingly impenetrable defence that it's all 'just a joke!' But when a super-fan makes headlines, Rodney's darkest joke becomes nothing to laugh about... Tackling cancel culture, misogyny and what we find funny, 'it's difficult. It will grab audiences, and it doesn't let go' **** (NorthWestEnd.co.uk). 'A big and bold writer to watch' (Nick Blood, Marvel). Award-winning new writing, with a flare for the provocative.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Nip

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compilation, stand-up

So You Think You're Funny? Competition - Grand Final

21 AUG - 19:30
Finalists battle it out to take the crown in the climactic stage of the UK's most prestigious comedy newcomer competition! Following months of regional showcases around the UK and Ireland, see comedy's rising stars give their best performances in a bid to win So You Think You're Funny? 2025. 'Showcasing the stand-up stars of the future' (Comedy.co.uk). Previous winners and finalists from the competition include Aisling Bea, Tommy Tiernan, Maisie Adam, Peter Kay, Lee Mack, Fern Brady, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Sara Pascoe, Daniel Sloss and more.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Orchard

Select Dates

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clown, physical theatre

Couac... Physical Comedy

30 JUL - 17 AUG (NOT 6, 11, 12 AUG) - 10:00
In an ultra-connected world, Jo struggles against the omnipresence of Eve, the AI server. Eve directs and controls Jo's every move and pushes him to consume more and more. This wordless show is an invitation to reflect on the place of nature and technology in our lives and the importance of preserving our humanity. Presented in a playful and poetic way, this physical theatre one-man show, combining humour and clowning, resonates particularly well with our hyper-connected society. A unique, funny and touching theatrical experience for all the family.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Doonstairs

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Family-friendly

Lindsey Cole's The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo

30 JUL - 17 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 11:30
Tired of the state of our waterways? So is adventure mermaid Lindsey Cole and she needs your help to wave the big poo right outta her home so Otter can return. The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo is based on Lindsey's popular children's book about her 60km swim adventure down the Bristol Avon with a big poo sculpture, campaigning against sewage pollution. Expect songs, dance, games, a splash of audience improv and a whole dump of fun.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Dram

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storytelling, solo show

Yvonne Hughes: Absolutely Riddled

30 JUL - 15 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 11:30
Absolutely Riddled is a fresh and bold dive into the reality of living with cystic fibrosis (CF) – a journey that's as phlegmy as it is funny. Yvonne shares her absurd story from miracle meds to magazine spreads with a candour rarely found in glossy publications. She's not just "another survivor"; she's a fearless powerhouse embracing the parts of CF that others might shy away from talking about – especially mucus! This stand-up show promises an unapologetic, hilarious take on life, where Yvonne navigates her 50s, transforming from someone barely surviving to fully thriving.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Snug

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improv, comedy

A.L.Ex and the ImproBots: How to Train Your Robot

30 JUL - 17 AUG - 11:40
Hilarious, fast-paced science theatre for the whole family with real robots, games and storytelling. Join the ImproBots in a comically absurd attempt to train their feisty robot A.L.Ex to be the funniest AI in the galaxy. Cutting-edge technology meets improv comedy where kids big and small will delight in the silly world of AI-powered humour and discovery. Will A.L.Ex become the ultimate comedy machine, or will the ImproBots need help from their human friends? Expect laughter, surprises and mind-expanding fun in this singular AI adventure.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Nip

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Science and Technology, spoken word

Mark Thompson's Spectacular Science Show

30 JUL - 10 AUG - 11:45
You think science is boring, think again; this is science like you have never seen it before. Designed for children and adults alike, Mark's Spectacular Science Show explores the strange and magical properties of matter with exploding elephant's toothpaste, vortex-generating dustbins and even howling jelly babies! Awarded Best Kid's Show at Edinburgh Fringe by The Derek Awards, this interactive show promises to entertain and educate in the most spectacular way!

Location Gilded Balloon at the Museum

subvenue Auditorium

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Baxter vs The Bookies by Andy Linden

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 12, 19 AUG) - 13:00
The bets are laid. We're off! Actor Andy Linden (Harry Potter, Count Arthur Strong, The Business, Not Going Out) in a one-man play recounting the fluctuating fortunes of an ageing horse-racing tipster adrift in the modern world of technology. Baxter dreams of one day having a great win and bashing the bookies. But let's face it, no one ever beats The Bookies. Do they? 'A masterclass of thoroughbred character acting' ***** (GetYourCoatsOn.com). 'Mesmeric, the hour passed in an instant, but stays in the memory much longer' **** (NorthWestEnd.com).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Snug

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puppetry, solo show

Not My Grandmother's Daughter

30 JUL - 24 AUG - 13:00
Explores the relationship a young woman has with her mother through the relationship she has with her grandmother. She interconnects the history of their hands through generations with the help of shadow and sound in this love letter through time. After collecting her grandmother's stories, she began to dream up a way to share her grandmother's life and to better understand her own maternal relationship. Through the use of shadow puppetry, which has the ability to bend through space and time, life and death, she found her grandmother's voice and her own.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Eve

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improv

The Cambridge Impronauts

30 JUL - 25 AUG - 13:00
Let Cambridge's best-loved improv troupe set the stage ablaze with a smörgåsbord of hilarious scenes, wacky games and silly capers all completely made up on the spot! In the style of Whose Line Is It Anyway, and featuring guests such as The Cambridge Footlights, The Cambridge Impronauts return for our 9th run at Fringe. Each show is based on your suggestions. No two shows are ever the same! Don't hold back, come let us entertain you with the perfect post-lunch digestif. No script? No rehearsals? No problem.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue The Penny

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Children's Show, comedy

The Improv Musical

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 14 AUG) - 13:00
Returning for our 10th year, smash-hit production The Improv Musical is coming back to take the Fringe by storm. Each show is a completely improvised, never-before-seen musical based on the audience's suggestions! You choose the setting, characters and title, then sit back and watch as our performers bring your suggestions to life – complete with a live band playing totally improvised music! So get your suggestions ready, and come along for an hour of improvised fun for all ages where the show really is in your hands!

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Doonstairs

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absurdist, farce

The Marriage of Alice B Toklas by Gertrude Stein

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 6, 12, 19 AUG) - 13:00
A New York Times Critic's Pick! A marriage farce by Edward Einhorn about Stein and Toklas in which four actors play over 30 characters. Identities are merged and submerged. Their famous salon, with celebrity guests such as Hemingway, Picasso and many others, is the setting for this comic fantasy with serious intent. The lesbian and Jewish subtext of their lives is made text, and the tragic implications of a relationship that existed in their hearts, but could never be fully acknowledged, are explored. Critically acclaimed in New York and London.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Dram

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comedy, compilation

Fast Fringe: Family Edition

30 JUL - 12 AUG & 16 - 17 AUG - 13:15
So many comedians, so little time! In this unmissable Fringe institution, 12 top comedy and variety acts perform ridiculously short sets in one furiously fast-paced showcase, hosted by the best MCs around – and suitable for all the family. There's a different line-up every day, handpicked by Chortle's comedy experts – check the website for daily listings. It's a gloriously entertaining way to sample the festival in bite-sized chunks.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Orchard

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Science and Technology, stand-up

Robin Ince: The Universe and the Neurodiverse

30 JUL - 17 AUG - 13:15
A journey through the minds that populate the planet and may populate the universe beyond. An hour of joy and curiosity with the presenter of the multi award-winning Infinite Monkey Cage. Expect stories of chimpanzees and astronauts, of starlight and falcons. We are the neurodiversity of the universe, a place of many minds and many imaginations. This new show is a celebration of our possibilities in a time when we've given too many platforms to the mean and the bullying, let us elevate those who strive for beauty and camaraderie.

Location Gilded Balloon at the Museum

subvenue Auditorium

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farce, solo show

Lizzy Sunshine

30 JUL - 10 AUG - 13:20
With her co-star unaccounted for, ever positive Lizzy Sunshine carries a vaudevillian double act alone. This show-within-a-show ends with a twist, revealing the farcical fate of addiction's little sister. It's like Glee meets Baby Reindeer... but hot? Your new favorite nightmare, Lizzy Sunshine features: musical numbers, special effects and magic, characters, sermons and gags, bottomless props and boundless energy, audience participation, and take-home rose-colored glasses under your seat. After a sold-out run in NYC and tour of the US, Liz Coin's Lizzy Sunshine makes its Fringe debut!

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Bothie

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spoken word, dance

Dreamscape

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 13:30
Beatboxing, spoken word and hip-hop dance reimagine the true story of the night Californian policemen shot dead nineteen-year-old Tyisha Miller as she lay unconscious in a car. Tyisha's depiction of the innocent pleasures of her life and hopes for the future, told with sweetness, humour and teenage insight contrast with the violence of her death shown in an autopsy report recited by a dispassionate coroner, describing each of her twelve bullet wounds in clinical detail. This highly acclaimed, clear-eyed look at the relationship between race, the body and violence has been performed across the US and the world.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Bramley

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new writing, comedy

Parody of the Rings

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 13 AUG) - 13:30
At the local cinema, all hell breaks loose when the ushers misplace the DVDs of The Lord of the Rings trilogy – every single copy! With only the soundtracks left in hand, the team of hapless ushers must somehow create an entire three-film saga in front of a live audience. Get ready for an uproarious show of comedy, chaos, and utter nonsense, as they attempt to recreate the epic tale of hobbits, elves, and orcs – without any visuals, any planning, or any clue what they're doing.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Other Yin

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satire, comedy

Level Up!

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 14:00
What if life were a game? In a world where billionaires race to colonise space, Trump coins give you extra lives and making cows meditate saves the planet, it can be hard to know if you're winning. Jo, Raff and Bobby are three gamers stuck in the game of life. Jo's into crypto, Raff wants to save the planet and Bobby just wants a quick win. Who has what it takes to Level Up?

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Big Yin

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new writing, comedy

A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 13 AUG) - 14:20
A laugh-out-loud slapstick whodunnit featuring four actors, a dozen characters and a whole load of chaos. When a priceless painting vanishes during a private auction, Detective Stuart Pidcock is brought in to unravel the mystery. But when he finds himself stumped, he must turn to an old adversary for help. The unlikely duo must question the colourful array of suspects living at the manor, all while trying to track down the cunning thief and solve the crime of the century. 'Good clean fun' (TheReviewsHub.com).

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue McIntosh

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interactive, theatre

Aideen McQueen: Waiting for Texto

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 14:20
Waiting for Texto is an electrifying interactive comedy play that captures the raw, universal experience of waiting for a response to your carefully crafted WhatsApp message. Through humour and technology, it explores the frustration of not getting a reply after an unforgettable night. Described as Bridget Jones meets Baby Reindeer, the play offers a fresh, hilarious take on the trials of modern dating, perfect for anyone who's struggled with love and texting in the digital age. If men are such visual creatures, why can't they see my texts?!

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Nip

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solo show, Dark Comedy

The Strongest Girl in the World

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 12, 19 AUG) - 14:20
Gather round the campfire for this funny and nostalgic play about love, loss and summer camp. Truly doesn't remember her dad. Not really. Instead, she's collected songs, objects and stories to build a picture of who he was. Join her as she embarks on a journey to discover her father, and uncovers her childhood self along the way. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll yearn for the early 2000s. Come see this story of fear and bravery that examines how we remember those we've lost.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Snug

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comedy, LGBTQ+

There's Something Seriously Wrong With Cyrus

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 12, 19 AUG) - 14:20
A heartfelt and uplifting one-man show about an Indian-Persian gay man navigating the complexities of his identity. Born to immigrant parents, Cyrus takes audiences on an intimate journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Through dynamic multi media and the celebration of Madonna and Taylor Swift's music, he finds his authentic voice and learns to embrace his cultural heritage and sexuality. With sharp humor and raw vulnerability, Cyrus shares his story of breaking free from expectations, risking authenticity, and ultimately learning to live unapologetically in his truth, celebrating the universal quest for belonging and self-love.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue The Penny

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new writing, comedy

Well Behaved Women

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 13 AUG) - 14:20
It's 1883. Three friends are trying their best to navigate the chaos of their 20s. Marianne wants to be taken seriously. Emma wants to find a husband. Hattie wants to get drunk. When awful aristocrat Chester arrives in town, appearing to hold the keys to all their dreams, they decide the only reasonable plan of attack is to host a fake séance to trick him into helping them. What could possibly go wrong? They're not making history. They are making a bit of a mess of things.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Doonstairs

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stand-up

Sarah Bradley: Just Like Other Girls

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 14:40
After spending her formative years trying to be "not like other girls", Sarah Bradley is celebrating all things feminine – from rosé to romance novels, horoscopes to hot celebrities, inconvenient crushes to crying at inconvenient times. Whatever your gender, you are warmly invited to leave shame, judgement and societal expectations at the door, and come embrace the girly girl within. 'Hilarious... clever and brilliant' (SquirrelComedy.com).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Bothie

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storytelling, theatre

Eden Sher: I Was On A Sitcom

30 JUL - 4 AUG - 14:45
I Was On A Sitcom is a show about finding out who you are when your TV show ends, and your real life begins. Because when you've played a character on TV for a decade, what exactly does it mean to be yourself? This show offers an intimate glimpse into a popular sitcom actor's real, raw life. It's funny, vulnerable and disarmingly casual – you will walk away feeling like you've made a new friend and learned more about birthing twins than you ever did before.

Location Gilded Balloon at the Museum

subvenue Auditorium

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Dark Comedy, Musical Theatre

Potty the Plant

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 12 AUG) - 14:45
A charmingly dark, whimsically adult, joyously subversive, musical delight! Starring our titular character, Potty! A singing, talking, tap dancing, potted plant. When mysterious events begin to occur at Little Boo Boo's General Hospital, a ragtag bunch of dysfunctional nurses must pull together to save the day. What could be happening to all the missing children? Will the beautiful Miss Lacey ever find true love? Is there more to the nasty-looking Dr Acula than meets the eye? Potty The Plant is an hour of side-splitting, earwormy, musical fun, that begs the audience to not take anything too seriously.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Braeburn

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Musical Comedy, LGBTQ+

A Stan Is Born!

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 15:00
Born in New York City as a closeted kid, Alexis is forced to follow his family to... rural Germany. Ugh. Diva down. Discovering women online is his only salvation: Céline, Whitney, Mariah, Beyoncé... you name 'em, he got 'em. They are his MOTHERS and he is OBSESSED. With 10 original songs, sung and played live on keyboard, Alexis shares the queer joy he discovered in stanning, while also confronting the hardships (somehow being obsessed with women makes you... gay?! Wow...) Does this queer Bo Burnham have what it takes to be... a lil gay diva?!

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Blether

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stand-up, LGBTQ+

Gag Race

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11, 18 AUG) - 15:00
The power to judge comedians in the competition that sells out in London every week! Gag Race is unlike any other comedy competition. The comedians perform their best material for you and afterwards, from our app on your phone, you score them out of five for their Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent. Our super computer tallies up all the scores and then we crown the winner of Gag Race based on your scores! Everyone wants the crown but who will win – literally you decide. From The Queer Comedy Club. 'An institution' (Guardian). 'Outrageously funny... inspirational' (Attitude Magazine).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Coorie

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new writing, contemporary

Tilly No-Body

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 15:00
In a deserted circus, drama, humour, music and songs tell the true story of actress Tilly Wedekind and her controlling, famous husband, Frank Wedekind (Spring Awakening). When Frank robs Tilly of her acting roles, he reduces her to a Nobody. Broken-hearted, she attempts suicide. Following her recovery, she reclaims her career, discovers her voice and writes her own story, so Tilly No-Body became a Somebody. This internationally acclaimed, magical, tour-de-force performance about love and identity asks: Why do we stay in relationships long after they've turned toxic? How can we take back our stories after we've been silenced?

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Bramley

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new writing, Dark Comedy

r/Conspiracy

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 12, 19 AUG) - 15:00
r/Conspiracy is a play for messy girls, hungry sleuths, and the chronically online. Alex tumbles headfirst into the rabbit hole when she spots a Reddit thread documenting a man with a machete roaming her local park. But the harder she digs, the deeper she falls... A timely reminder of the flaws of the internet, and a virtual mystery romp for 20-somethings with too much time on their hands, and the weight of the world on their shoulders, r/Conspiracy is written and performed by Ella Hällgren, and directed by Emma Ruse.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Ruby

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improv, theatre

Locomotive for Murder: The Improvised Whodunnit

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 12 AUG) - 15:30
Pinch Punch are back to welcome you aboard Locomotive for Murder, an improvised comedy murder-mystery where killing the cast and cracking the case is in your hands. Expect outrageous accents and shaky alibis! Four characters board a train but not everyone will survive. Thankfully, a world-famous detective is ready to solve the case. But who is the murderer? Only one person knows: the murderer themselves. Using audience suggestions and stories, Pinch Punch create a never-to-be-repeated whodunnit. If you love comedy or murder mysteries then this is the show for you!

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Big Yin

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theatre, Character Comedy

Christian Dart: Gumshoe!

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 12 AUG) - 15:40
A grizzled New York detective embarks on his final, most deadly and most ridiculous case yet. Who did the whodunnit?! Best Show nominee: Leicester Comedy Festival 2025. Finalist: Leicester Square Theatre Sketch-Off! 2025. Semi-finalist: Musical Comedy Awards 2025. 'Christian Dart is one to watch!' (Tim Vine).

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Pip

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comedy, drama

F.U.D.S

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 5, 12, 19 AUG) - 15:40
Stoners. Lazy, irresponsible, paranoid wasters. Or are they? Perhaps deep inside the stoner flats of Scotland three men have the answers to life's greatest questions. Perhaps in this church of debauchery lies something more holy and transcendent than you can possibly imagine. Perhaps the truth of the corruption of our society is only one psychedelic away from being in your fingertips. They are out to get us. They control every aspect of our existence. They are coming for us one by one. Who are they? Come inside and see the truth...

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Nip

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comedy, solo show

Hail Mary, None of the Grace

30 JUL - 24 AUG - 15:40
Mary Kennedy, yes one of those Kennedys, third cousins twice removed; all of the tragedy, none of the money. No Irish Catholic story is complete without a mention of a good Irish funeral! Join Mary as she lays her mother to rest. Through her mother's dying, Mary learned how to live. Hail Mary, None of the Grace is a rollercoaster of awakenings for Kennedy, which has created the woman she is today.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Eve

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stand-up

Njambi McGrath: Revolution

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 15:40
From the Greeks to Tibetans, the French, to Africans fighting for independence, revolutions have been part of the human race from time immemorial. For as long as there's been injustice, oppression, elitism and feudalism, people have always found innovative ways to force those in authority to listen to their cause. Njambi McGrath returns to Edinburgh with a satirical look at notable revolutions, both current and historical.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue The Penny

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comedy, solo show

ROTUS: Receptionist of the United States

30 JUL - 24 AUG - 15:40
Hands up who loves freedom! Chastity Quirke is White House receptionist, ex-Chapter President of Kappa Gamma Zeta, and a proud Republican. She is proud to serve her close personal friend, the President of the United States. Determined to prove her loyalty by any means necessary, she's not letting the icky democrats, her ex-boyfriend, or socialism stand in her way. But when this all-American girl next door is forced to choose between the power of female friendship and proving herself as the ultimate guys' girl, she's horrified to discover she might be a feminist.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Snug

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Musical Theatre

Confessions of a Redheaded Coffeeshop Girl

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 6, 13, 20 AUG) - 16:00
Recent anthropology graduate and feisty redhead Joanie Little is stuck working as a barista, studying the 'creatures' (customers) as if she were Jane Goodall, bushwhacking through the jungle to study chimpanzees! In her 'coffeeshop jungle,' hilarity ensues, with jazzy tunes, co-worker showdowns and maybe even romance! 'Solo performance at its best… rolling out a cast of characters like a wild kingdom field guide! I dare you not to fall in love with Joanie' (LifeWithMoreCowbell.com). As seen on TV. BroadwayWorld.com – Best Musical 2014. Edinburgh Fringe Sell-Out 2015 and in 38 cities worldwide! ***** (CBC).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Doonstairs

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cabaret, magic

PENMAN – The Imaginator – YOU

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11, 12 AUG) - 16:00
From the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to stages across the USA and UK, PENMAN, The Imaginator, takes you on a mind-bending journey beyond your subconscious limits to reveal the remarkable story of YOU: A modern mentalist with the energy of a hip-hop artist, Fraser Penman fuses hypnotism, comedy and audience participation with a high-energy soundtrack of summer anthems. Expect laughter, jaw-dropping moments and a fresh take on mentalism that inspires and astonishes. Unleash your hidden superpowers, rethink what's possible and experience the magic of YOU. Book now – before your mind changes!

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue McIntosh

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clown, physical theatre

Ironing Board Man

30 JUL - 17 AUG (NOT 6 AUG) - 16:15
One man. Ten ironing boards. One epic soundtrack. Prepare to be amazed as physical comedian Jody Kamali skillfully transforms these everyday household items into the tools of a Hollywood-style, action-packed romance. With heart-pounding moments and emotional depth, the packed-out run at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe earned standing ovations. There's gunfire, there's a wedding, there's more gunfire and there's revenge – plus plenty of laughter along the way. 'Exuberantly, unapologetically mindless... it's too funny' (Guardian). 'An astonishing tour de force' (DarkChat.co.uk). 'More laughs than a laundry room full of nitrous oxide and easily amused hyenas' (GetYourCoatsOn.com).

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Braeburn

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stand-up, LGBTQ+

David Ian: Am I Mean?

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11, 18 AUG) - 16:20
With his crowd-work videos generating more than 2.5 million views online, David has honed a special talent for being mean – but where does it come from? And why? Is it who he really is? His friends keep telling him he's mean and it doesn't bother him until one day, some guy says he should be nicer – and that's got David thinking... 'Outrageously funny' (Attitude). 'A true masterclass in crowd work' (NorthWestEnd.com). 'Gloriously filthy' (BroadwayBaby,com). 'Pitch perfect' (Skinny).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Coorie

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stand-up

Hannah Campbell - Me!

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 12 AUG) - 16:20
Some Fringe shows will take you on a deeply personal, sometimes traumatic journey. And whilst they're great, that's just not me. Me! That's what this show is about. No trauma, no ADHD, and my parents are still together. Join me for a hilarious hour of stand-up, packed with razor-sharp punchlines, cheeky stories, and a mischievous edge. Soz babe, it's not that deep. 'Immaculate delivery, unfussy and earthy... an assuredness that feels destined for big theatre tours' (Comedy.co.uk). 'Her comedy is incredibly good' ****½ (One4Review.co.uk).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Blether

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new writing, Dark Comedy

Jumper Bumps

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 12, 19 AUG) - 16:20
What happens when the thing you wished for your whole life turns out to be your worst nightmare? Eris wants a baby. Atlanta doesn't. They're best friends with very different views of motherhood. Eris sees it as a chance to create a better version of herself. Atlanta sees it as the opposite, an end to her freedom. As similar as they are different, their friendship is stretched when Eris finds herself pregnant. The debut play by Amelia Rodger about a woman's right to choose, coercive relationships and female friendship.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Ruby

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Family-friendly, magic

Almost Impossible 2.0: Martin Brock

30 JUL - 24 AUG - 16:30
Back at the Fringe with an electrifying, one-of-a-kind spectacle of slick, mind-bending magic, laugh-out-loud comedy, cutting-edge video production and astonishing illusions – magic like you've never seen before! Top family entertainment! 'Prepare to be spellbound' (StageWhispers.com.au), as Martin Brock delivers 'glamorous and polished work' (Penn & Teller), all created from scratch, with the finale alone taking seven years to perfect! 'His original stuff is wonderful and brilliantly magical' ****½ (GlamAdelaide.com.au). Guaranteed the most thrilling magic you'll experience this festival! 'One of the best Fringe shows I have seen. Go see it!' ****½ (FringeFeed.com.au).

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Bramley

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stand-up, solo show

Alana Jackson: Last Orders

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 17:00
Alana Jackson, winner of So You Think You're Funny? 2024 brings her debut show to the Edinburgh Fringe. Tales of being from Glasgow, moving to London, going to drama school and working/drinking in pubs, Alana tells all, bringing to life the characters she's met along the way. Her winning set at So You Think You're Funny? was described by Chortle as 'relatable and witty, told with impact and flair'. Fest praised how she 'delivered with an amiability reminiscent of a good friend down the pub'.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Pip

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cabaret, magic

Hypnotist Matt Hale - Funbelievable! 90s Rewind

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 13 AUG) - 17:00
Hyp Me Baby One More Time! The unmissable smash-hit comedy hypnotist is back with a 90s party hypnoshow! Multiple sell-out Fringe runs, 150 million+ views online. Enjoy from stage or audience – you choose. All-ages friendly. 'The laughter is uncontrollable!' ***** (FringeFeed.com.au). 'Funfilled show!' ***** (One4Review.co.uk). 'Laugh until your sides hurt!' ***** (WeekendNotes.com). 'Rollicking good time' ***** (SeeDoEatReview.com). 'Spectacular silliness! Absolute feelgood must-see show' ****½ (XPressMag.com.au). Hypnotist Matt Hale is a multi-award winner, seen on Best Shows, Top 10s and Picks of the Fringe.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Big Yin

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storytelling, stand-up

Michael Welch: All Rizz, No Filter

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 8 AUG) - 17:00
Diving headfirst into the chaos of his early 30s, Michael Welch is back with a bold new hour – no edits, no filters, and definitely no luck. 'I am certain this comedian is destined for a Netflix special' ***** (Entertainment-Now.com). 'He's unafraid of pushing his jokes further than many of his contemporaries would dare' ***** (List). 'Welch does what a lot of theatre-goers are after: he helps them find themselves in his own story' (Seagull.news). 'Attracts considerable laughs... and has an impulse to push boundaries' (Scotsman).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue The Penny

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stand-up, Alternative Comedy

Nate Kitch: Something Different!!!!!

30 JUL - 25 AUG - 17:00
2024's Best Newcomer and Malcolm Hardee Award nominee returns, let's see what happens now. (It's sort of about Charlatans, voices and a Rasputin book that, as it stands, I haven't read.) 'A masterclass in ripping up the comedic rulebook and thriving in an environment of total comic chaos' (Entertainment-Now.com). 'Deconstructer of the form, helping you see conventional stand-up's limitations' (Fest). 'Unique..pushing at the edges of what stand-up can be defined as.. is this where the cult begins?' (Chortle.co.uk). 'Transcends mere jokes... go see' (Scotsman). ***** (MervsPOTFringe.com). **** (BeyondTheJoke.co.uk).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Snug

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new writing, comedy

Seating Plan

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 7, 21 AUG) - 17:00
What if you were sat next to the love of your life and just didn't know it? Stuck beside each other at a dinner party year after year. Some would call it fate, Mavis and David call it a nightmare. She's keen. He's terrified. Together, they're trapped. Forced proximity breeds love… and contempt. Think One Day meets Sliding Doors, with a dash of Julia Davis' Nighty Night. A fresh twist on the classic romcom. Seating Plan is a poignant exploration of fate, loneliness and the invisible ties that bind us – even when we're too stubborn to notice.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Nip

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new writing, Dark Comedy

Motorhome Marilyn

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 13 AUG) - 17:30
Michelle Collins makes her Edinburgh Fringe debut in Motorhome Marilyn, a dark comedy by Ben Weatherill. The play follows Denise, an aspiring actress with an obsessive relationship with Marilyn Monroe, hoping to live up to the icon's fame and beauty. In the 1980s, she heads to Hollywood, but as her dreams falter, she is forced to confront the painful truth of unfulfilled aspirations. Inspired by Michelle's real-life encounter with a woman known as Motorhome Marilyn, the play reveals the toll of living in the shadow of an icon, exploring failure, aging, and the heartbreaking cost of unattained dreams.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Doonstairs

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solo show, Character Comedy

Lily Blumkin: Nice Try

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 14 AUG) - 17:40
From The Daily Show's Lily Blumkin comes a hilarious solo show about growing up and getting worse. When packing up her childhood bedroom, Lily introduces us to nine zany characters like a well-meaning dad, a self-indulgent rabbi, and an inanimate clump of hair. After sold out performances in New York, Nice Try comes to Fringe with an honest look at how we use the past to make sense of our present.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Blether

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Family-friendly, magic

1 Hour of Insane Magic

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 5 AUG) - 17:45
After complete sell-outs in 2023 and 2024, Insane Magic (Cameron Gibson, Elliot Bibby and Luke Osey) return with their biggest show yet! Fresh from a smash-hit run at the Adelaide Fringe, the trio bring a brand-new hour of mind-blowing magic, with some fan-favourite classics sprinkled into the mix. Witness 'three of the best magicians in the country' (EdinburghLive.co.uk), in a show that's 'so insanely good' (WorldMagicReview.com), it has to be seen to be believed!

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Orchard

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Alternative Comedy, sketch show

Biscuit Barrel: The 69-Sketch Show

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 13 AUG) - 17:45
69 sketches in an hour! The UK's fastest sketch show returns for its sixth year, featuring new sketches for 2025. 'Non-stop laughs. A wee masterpiece' ***** (TheMumble.uk). 'An excellent comedy show **** (BroadwayBaby.com). Featuring DazzReviews, as seen on YouTube. Whether a slapstick routine told through beatboxing or the typo-based secrets of Area 52, you'll never know what's next! This is the speed of the internet on a stage. 'Most reliable sketch-group in the game' **** (EdFringeReview.com). 'The hit-rate of their sketches is high' (List).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Dram

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solo show, LGBTQ+

Float

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 10, 24 AUG) - 18:00
Join Astronaut Indra on a nine-month mission to the moon... but not all missions are successful. A new autobiographical solo show by Indra Wilson about the lonely, turbulent journey of experiencing pregnancy loss as a queer young person. A black hole forms when a star dies, explodes into tiny little pieces until it returns back to the dust it once was – as if it never even existed in the first place. With dynamic sound and projections, be immersed in this unique, heartfelt and hopeful debut. Produced by award-winning feminist company, F-Bomb Theatre (Fringe First, Sit-Up Award). MadeInScotlandShowcase.com

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Other Yin

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improv, Podcast

Tartan Tabletop: A Dungeons & Dragons Comedy

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 18:00
Calling all Dungeons & Dragons fans! The Tartan Tabletop gang are back after their second sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe. Get ready for improvised comedy at the roll of a dice as our four heroes blunder their way through an adventure like no other – aided by the weird and wonderful Noblin the Goblin, played by a different guest star comedian every night! Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the world of tabletop gaming, this show was made for you. Roll for initiative!

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Bramley

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improv, sketch show

Bad Clowns: Long Live the King!

30 JUL - 17 AUG - 18:20
The king is dead! There are three candidates to succeed him – they can only ascend the throne with support of the local lords and ladies (the audience)! Join the Bad Clowns and shape the future of the entire kingdom! Leicester Comedy Award nominees 2024. ***** (LondonTheatre1.com). ***** (WestEndBestFriend.co.uk). **** (Daily Express). **** (BroadwayBaby.com). **** (ThreeWeeks). **** (BroadwayWorld.com). **** (EdFringeReview.com). **** (TheWeeReview.com). **** (One4Review.co.uk). **** (CultureVulture.net).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Nip

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solo show, Musical Comedy

Colette Gregory: Black Best Friend

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 11, 18 AUG) - 18:20
A hilarious dissection of Black media tropes with satirical sketches, comedic songs and recognisable characters. The Oprah of comedy, Colette Gregory deconstructs sexuality, religion and everything from Black conservatives to Love is Blind contestants. The result is an unforgettable evening of belly laughs, knowing head nods and songs you'll be singing in the shower. Awarded Favourite Sketch or Variety Performance by a Group or Individual at the 2024 Pack Hollywood Festival, Black Best Friend will leave you thinking about what it is to be a token Black face in a predominantly white space.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Snug

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stand-up, Dark Comedy

Sophia Wren: Princess Melancholy

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 18 AUG) - 18:20
Is Sophia performing stand-up comedy or are we just witnessing an acute psychotic episode? Either way, once she's getting attention, she doesn't care. Come and watch a charmingly lewd, self deprecating and 'delulu' grown woman who insists on dressing like a princess as she explores her experiences with men, Irishness, body image, feminism, unexpected motherhood and the cruel and vulgar reality of being in a human body, all tinged with a nihilistic and self-destructive dread that underpins her every thought. Finalist, So You Think You're Funny 2024.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Eve

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comedy, historical

Jackie!!!

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 18:30
Sex, drugs and coercive control... Jackie!!! is a new musical comedy that follows the young Jacqueline Bouvier as she dreams of becoming the first American Royal. After marrying into the illustrious Kennedy dynasty, Jackie discovers that power and notoriety come with the price of secrecy and silence. With Joe Kennedy pulling the strings, Jackie's sister Lee pulling away and JFK pulling anything that moves, Jackie is left alone to contemplate if life atop the American throne is really worth the familial curse that seemingly hangs over it.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Big Yin

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clown, solo show

Jacob Aldcroft: The Day I Got the Horn

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 13 AUG) - 18:40
John Binjuice lived a quiet life, until everyone in his town suddenly transformed into terrifying beasts. With horns. Big, scary horns. John has, so far, resisted the horn. How long can his humanity last? A riotous solo clown show from Jacob Aldcroft – 'He has funny legs' (Philippe Gaulier) – watch as John attempts to save all humanity through lots of shouting, running and jumping, song, dance and stunning amounts of vodka. Prepare to laugh (a lot), cry (a bit) and pee (your pants).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Bothie

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solo show, Neurodiversity-led

Juliette Burton: Best of Burton

30 JUL - 8 AUG - 19:00
Celebrate Gilded Balloon's 40th anniversary with award-winning comedian Juliette Burton. Get in the party spirit with this Gilded gal, as she brings the best bits from her multiple sold-out Edinburgh Fringe shows. Cram over a decade of fringe into one jubilant hour of life-affirming hilarity with heart. Join in the joy of Juliette. As seen on BBC One and ITV. 'Seriously funny' ***** (Mirror). 'Educational, hilarious' ***** (EdFestMag.com). ***** (StarburstMagazine.com). ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). ***** (VoiceMag.uk). ***** (FemaleArts.com). ***** (LoveFringe.com). ***** (Daily Record). **** (Sunday Express). 'Fringe Favourite' (Guardian). 'Fringe legend' (FringeReview.co.uk). 'Refreshingly revealing' (Comedy.co.uk).

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Ruby

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interactive, stand-up

Married at Fringe Sight

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11, 18 AUG) - 19:00
An exciting crowd-work show where the audience decide who gets married today, by the end of the show! You have the power, using our app, to decide who is getting married! Our comedians will find out what the audience is really like while you get to decide who makes the perfect pairing and decide who is going to get Married at Fringe (first) Sight! From the team that The Guardian called 'an institution' and Attitude Magazine called 'hilariously funny... inspirational'. 'A true masterclass in crowd work' (NorthWestEnd.co.uk). Don't forget your hat!

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Coorie

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new writing, comedy

PALS

30 JUL - 12 AUG (NOT 7 AUG) - 19:00
Female-led and female-produced, PALS is a Scottish adventure-comedy play telling the story of four, crude, chaotic yet completely normal gal pals as they embark on a camping trek in the west of Scotland. In a bid to escape their lives, have a riotous time and avoid several mental breakdowns, these "Perfectly Average Lassies of Scotland" are completely out of their depths, in more ways than one. PALS premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe 2024 and was long-listed for the Binge Fringe Queer Performers Award and deemed as 'the sort of show we've been waiting for' (CorrBlimey.co.uk).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Doonstairs

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comedy, Musical Theatre

Arthur Hull's FLOP

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 12, 19 AUG) - 19:15
The best songs from the worst musicals ever written! The neon lights aren't always bright on Broadway, and for every hit there are 50 flops. Rising Australian star Arthur Hull's acclaimed solo show sets out to prove that every musical can be proud of at least one song. Winner of the 2025 Adelaide Fringe Best Emerging Artist Award. 'Hull is a force of nature. An absolute joy!' ***** (List). 'Unforgettable and hilarious, a wonderful concept with clever delivery and genuine heart' ***** (SeeDoEatReview.com). 'A superstar in the making' ***** (OnYourMarkus.au).

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Braeburn

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drama

Samia Rida: Kidnap

30 JUL - 10 AUG - 19:15
Samia Rida's one-woman show is a comedy/drama based on the true story of her kidnap to Saudi as a child. It explores multiculturalism, disability, Saudi, mental health and how kidnap can involve a swimming pool. Supported by the charity Sibs. Supported by the BBC Comedy Collective and Funny Women. It's been on at Riverside Studios, The Tabard, The Museum of Comedy and the White Bear. Optioned for TV adaptation by Fulwell 73. Directed by Gareth Edwards – BBC producer (That Mitchell and Webb Look, Upstart Crow and Spaced). Producer Gina Lyons – A BAFTA Elevate producer.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Dram

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stand-up

Kim Blythe: Cowboy

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 19:30
Kim Blythe is a cowboy – not the rugged, western kind but more like a questionable tradesman. Unsure and thriving after selling out the Glasgow International Comedy Festival, Kim brings her second show Cowboy to the Fringe as she tries to make sense of it all. If you feel like you're constantly winging it through life, then Cowboy is the show for you! If you don't feel like that, it's still a great show I promise.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Other Yin

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stand-up, Musical Comedy

Michelle Brasier: It's a Shame We Won't Be Friends Next Year

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 13 AUG) - 19:30
A boy in school set my destiny with nine words, I'm gonna ask him why. Another hilarious and heartbreaking show from 'one of Australia's finest storytellers' ***** (GlamAdelaide.com.au). Brasier takes aim at the idea of criticism in this ode to the drama teacher that made her and the kid who said something mean at school. She's tracking down her critics to ask them why they said what they said. A show for the theatre kids, the freaks, the queers; for anyone who's spiralled about something they did years ago.

Location Gilded Balloon at the Museum

subvenue Auditorium

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stand-up, Dark Comedy

Brendan Tran: HOLE IN THE WALL L'HOPITAL

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 11, 18 AUG) - 19:40
If you've ever experienced loss, then this show was made for you. Brendan Tran, a Bob Curry Fellow from the world-renowned Second City comedy troupe in Chicago, pays tribute to his recently passed dad with this comedy special. A stand-up story of grief, the healthcare system and the hope that talking (and joking) about the death of a loved one can possibly help with healing. Only time will tell. 'Tremendous. So funny and touching, and relatable' (John Hartman from CBS's Ghosts).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue The Penny

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compilation, stand-up

Christopher Donovan and Laurie Brewster: Fun With Bad Boys

30 JUL - 25 AUG - 19:40
Christopher Donovan and Laurie Brewster present a split hour of stand-up as they try to rebrand themselves as the bad boys of comedy. Christopher brings anecdotal comedy, rich in detail and delivered with panache that earned him second place in So You Think You're Funny? 2023. 'Has a flair with words' (Chortle.co.uk). Laurie brings a dry, surreal brand of humour that saw him make it to the final of So You Think You're Funny? 2024. 'Proper jokes, coloured by self-deprecation' (Chortle.co.uk).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Snug

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improv, interactive

Improbotics Presents: RoboTales

30 JUL - 17 AUG - 19:40
An improvised choose-your-own adventure, featuring actors, a cute robot host and AI, where the audience controls the show! By award-winning Improbotics who created Artificial Intelligence Improvisation. 'Like Whose Line Is It Anyway? mixed with I, Robot' (BrightonAndHoveNews.org). ***** (TheatreAndTonic.co.uk). **** (Everything-Theatre.co.uk) 'Groundbreaking work with superb moments of comedy that poses serious philosophical questions' (FringeReview.co.uk). Most Innovative Show Award (ParisFringe.org, 2020). ****(BingeFringe.com). ***** (ThePhoenixRemix.com). **** (FringeTheatre.ca) 'I will stick with artificial stupidity' (Colin Mochrie). Featured in the New York Times, Financial Times, New Scientist, Time, Sky News and BBC.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Nip

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comedy, Musical Comedy

Girl Pop!

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 12, 19 AUG) - 20:00
The biggest girl group of the noughties reunite for the first time since their scandalous split. The quartet's meteoric rise saw them transform from innocent pop-princess underdogs to glamourous big-budget divas... before it fell spectacularly apart. Girl Pop! are finally ready to tell all. Were Hazel and Arabella secretly in love? Did Ruby and Zoe's feud end in a fistfight? Did Girl Pop! really murder a paparazzi photographer? The promise of a nostalgic celebration of girl power is threatened by egos, catfights and spotlights. Rumours are put to rest through a showstopping spectacle bursting with iconic pop bangers!

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Big Yin

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Saaniya Abbas – Hellarious

30 JUL - 25 AUG - 20:00
Saaniya Abbas takes audiences on her most personal and side-splitting journey yet in Hellarious. With sharp insights and her signature feline mischief, Saaniya dives into the cultural taboos of divorce, the absurdity of internet fame, and her playful take on the concept of hell itself. She reminds us that life isn't about always landing on your feet – it's about laughing when you don't. Tracing her evolution from a sheltered upbringing in a Muslim family to carving out her own path, Hellarious is a bold celebration of resilience, defiance, and self-discovery.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Bothie

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storytelling, stand-up

Mark Forward Presents Safari Time

30 JUL - 25 AUG - 20:20
You will learn nothing at this show. Comedian Mark Forward returns to the Fringe for the 3rd time with his ridiculously silly show Safari Time. Mark has done John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show (Comedy Central), The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS), Funny As Hell (HBO) and Just For Laughs. TV work includes Hulu comedy series Letterkenny, Donny Mashman on Fargo (FX) and The Jon Dore Television Show. Mark has two specials: Mark Forward presents Mark Forward and Mark Forward Wins All the Awards.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Coorie

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compilation, stand-up

Best of So You Think You're Funny?

30 JUL - 25 AUG - 20:45
An unmissable line-up of fresh talent starring Bert Broadbent, Fab Goualin, and Ciara O'Connor – finalists from the UK's biggest new comedy competition! See the best emerging comedians before they become household names. Previous winners and finalists from the competition include: Aisling Bea, Tommy Tiernan, Maisie Adam, Peter Kay, Lee Mack, Fern Brady, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Sara Pascoe, Daniel Sloss and many more. 'Showcasing the stand-up stars of the future' (Comedy.co.uk).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Dram

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spoken word

Joe Sib: California Calling

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 21:00
A story of growing up on a punk rock-fuelled journey. A unique comedian, Sib blends stand-up and storytelling like no one else, sharing raw, relatable tales from the 1980s suburbs to stages with Metallica, The Ramones and Social Distortion. Growing up in California, Sib saw punk rock explode into the suburbs, shaping his life. From fronting Wax and 22 Jacks to co-founding SideOneDummy Records. This unforgettable show is personal and raw. An inspiring journey. 'Joe Sib's show is a cross between theatre, memoir and a loogie in the eye' (LA Times).

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Pip

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stand-up

Molly McBride and Mariah Bowden: Toxic Femininity

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 12 AUG) - 21:00
Molly and Mariah are two of the biggest names on the newcomer circuit, and also the biggest c*nts. A feisty, fierce and filthy look inside the mind of two outstandingly toxic ladies.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Snug

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Family-friendly, Alternative Comedy

Patrick Monahan: The Good, the Pat and the Ugly

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 21:00
Cancel culture is fast approaching. What can/can't you say? What is there left to say? And everything in between. Stand-up comedy, in a sit-down world! 'Monahan is somewhat of a legend in Fringe terms.. A loveable, likeable comic.... he loves to entertain and make his audience laugh. And he always succeeds' ****½ (One4Review.co.uk, Edinburgh Fringe 2024). 'Patrick Monahan is a great comic' **** (BroadwayBaby.com). 'Definite must see!' **** (Edinburgh Festivals Magazine). 'Hilarious without being outrageous' ***** (ThreeWeeks).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Nip

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stand-up, solo show

Shamik Chakrabarti: Despite Appearances

13 & 20 Aug (16:00), 13 - 18 Aug (19:00)
Never judge a book by its cover. Not many people know this, but that sentence is an idiom and not really about books. It literally means – never judge a person by their face. You might think Shamik's face belongs to a sensible, practical man. You'd be wrong. He's not the responsible older sibling. He's not good at chess. He's not a nerd. At least, not in a useful way. Despite Appearances is an effort to put things right and break away from shallow, face-driven stereotypes. But you should just watch it for a laugh.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Eve

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Musical Theatre, LGBTQ+

Midnight at the Palace

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 12, 19 AUG) - 21:30
Living your true self is nearly a crime again, so join the OGs of F*ck You Counterculture for a night of radical joy and glitter-encrusted anarchy. A fever dream of gender-bending hippies, freaks and drag queens, led by flowers-in-guns radical Hibiscus and disco diva Sylvester, The Cockettes took San Francisco by storm in 1969. But when they tried to take their acid-fuelled, avant-garde act mainstream in NYC, it all went horribly wrong. A new musical exploding with on-your-feet numbers and in-your-face hilarity, demolishing the lines between art and showbiz, politics and performance.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Big Yin

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improv, Game Show

John Robertson's The Dark Room

30 JUL - 24 AUG - 22:00
The audience is trapped in a retro video game with a sadistic, end-of-level boss. Escape and win £1000 or be brutally murdered by the rest of the crowd! Will you: A) Find the light switch? B) Go north? C) Abandon hope? New deathtraps for 2025! 'A Rocky Horror for nerds... reader, I howled' **** (Telegraph). 'Not to be missed' (Guardian). 'Irresistibly dangerous' **** (Stage). Winner: Chortle Award. Nominated: Best Comedy, FringeWorld 2023. Runner-up: Best Comedy, NextUp 2022. As seen at Glastonbury, PAX, Blue Dot and MCM Comic Con.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Doonstairs

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solo show

Leo Still Dies in the End

30 JUL - 15 AUG - 22:00
It's been 84 years… or 26, since April 1999, when six-year-old Alice was finally allowed to watch James Cameron's classic, Titanic, on VHS. Presenting a one-woman parody re-enactment of Titanic in which Alice plays all the parts and the scenes are selected at random (but with the same emotional gravitas, she swears). In this show about how childhood obsessions shape who we are as adults, nostalgia for aging '90s media, and claims of boats too big to sink, you'll laugh, you'll cry, your heart will go on (even though Jack's does not!).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Dram

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music, comedy

Accordion Ryan's Pop Bangers

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 6, 12, 19 AUG) - 22:20
Britain's Got Talent star Accordion Ryan will sing and play your favourite songs like you've never heard them before! Adding in a few of his own hilarious tunes, this show is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face! Join in and sing along during this night of music, laughter and overall fun! 'Don't miss this show' ***** (PerthHappenings.com.au). 'An all-singing, all-dancing PARTY' ****½ (TheQR.co.uk). 'Musical comedy gold' **** (List). 'You're funny, I like you' (Simon Cowell). Winner: Overall Best Cabaret (Fringe World). Winner: Weekly Best Cabaret (Adelaide Fringe).

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Eve

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stand-up, LGBTQ+

Best of the Queer Fringe

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11, 18 AUG) - 22:20
A mixed bill line-up of the best LGBTQ+ stand-up comedians from across the Fringe from the UK's first LGBTQ+ stand-up comedy club, The Queer Comedy Club. Fresh from our two TV series on OUTtv we're bringing you an incredible line-up of different queer comedians every night, including TV comedians and rising stars. In the past we've had Larry Dean, Sarah Keyworth, Kemah Bob, Felicity Ward and more! You never know who you're going to see! ''Inspirational' (Attitude). 'An institution of London's LGBTQ+ scene' (Guardian).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Nip

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Musical Comedy, Character Comedy

Douglas Widick: Paperclip

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 19 AUG) - 22:20
Microsoft Word's writing assistant, Clippy, has seen the future – and it is bleak. Determined to prevent the impending techno-dystopia brought about by Artificial Intelligence, Clippy travels back in time to warn humanity in a thrilling adventure through the internet. Will he succeed in stopping AI at its source? There's only one way to find out... Douglas Widick (Time Out NY's Top 10 Comedy Show: North Coast; Blank! The Musical; F#%king Up Everything; and Anybody: An Improvised Historical Hip-Hopera) makes his UK debut in this award winning one-person comedy musical. Winner: Best Out-of-Town Show – Tucson Fringe.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue The Penny

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stand-up, solo show

Anais Gralpois: American Fetish

30 JUL - 25 AUG (NOT 12 AUG) - 22:40
Comedian Anaïs Gralpois Bridget Jones' her way into talking about her move to London, having a slag era and what it really means to be more than just that fit American in this candid one-woman stand-up comedy show.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Bothie

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comedy, circus

Broken Planet Show

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11, 18 AUG) - 23:00
The absurd cabaret of apocalyptic proportions. Comedy, circus and indie cosmic lunacy collide in an ever-changing nightly riot of world-class weirdos, hellbent on healing our planetary divide. Interactive, uplifting, subversive and bonkers. Featuring Clown God, Mothman, Fart Monkey, Nerf Karaoke and outlandish acts from across the Fringe, with a live-looped indie score morphing every night. Broken Planet Show dares you to misbehave, laugh at our flaws and dance through the chaos – uniting us in glorious imperfection. It's a rowdy invitation to take life less seriously. Join the revolution of ridiculousness. COME SAVE WORLD!

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Big Yin

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Alternative Comedy, Dark Comedy

Dead Man Talking

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11, 18 AUG) - 23:00
Comedians Elliot Weber (Dead Dad) and Joshua Emerson (Dead Mom) want to make you laugh with jokes about death and grief. Dead Man Talking is a stand-up comedy show about the lighter side of death, interspliced with improvised eulogies from crowd submissions. A person dies twice: once when their heart stops beating and again when they are forgotten. Let us share a laugh together about a loved one you miss. Special guests and surprises every show.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Ruby

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improv, Game Show

IKEA WARS

30 JUL - 25 AUG - 23:00
It's time to enter the flat pack thunderdome! Two Fringe performers go head-to-head in the ultimate home improvement indignity – building IKEA furniture. The challenge is simple: build the piece of furniture before your opponent does. Is it a race? Yes! Is it a game show? Also, yes! A plethora of chaotic sabotages are on hand to ensure that the road to glory is paved with pitfalls! Build the furniture. Survive the sabotages. Be crowned the Champion of Sweden!* *title not officially recognised by the Swedish government. Let's build!

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Coorie

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theatre, Family-friendly

Baby Shark and the Mystery of the Sphinx

31 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 6 - 7, 11 - 12, 18 - 20 AUG) - 10:30
Doo doo doo... Baby Shark's back with a globe-trotting mystery! Who nabbed the Sphinx? Help Fiddlefox and Baby Shark crack the case in this interactive musical adventure. Dance, sing, and play along as our dynamic duo swims around the world with magical host, Eldar. Perfect for tiny detectives aged 0-6. A fin-tastic show packed with music, magic and mayhem! Previous Fringe sell-out – book early! 'Designed for kids, by kids, this high-energy show keeps kids guessing and parents smiling' ****½ (Fringefeed, FringeWorld.com.au).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Other Yin

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blues, swing

The Jive Aces

31 JUL - 8 AUG - 12:00
The UK's no 1 jive and swing band, renowned for high-energy swinging sounds and spectacular stage show. Performed in 40+ countries. Played for the Queen. Worked with Van Morrison and John Travolta. Starred at Royal Albert Hall, Buckingham Palace, Kennedy Center, Glastonbury and voted Best Band at Boisdale Music Awards. Their award-winning video, Bring Me Sunshine, has 3.8m views and is so uplifting it's been prescribed by a doctor! The first live band to reach the final rounds of Britain's Got Talent. 'Absolutely brilliant!' (Simon Cowell). 'Simply sensational' (Stage).

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Bramley

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comedy, Musical Theatre

The Steamie

31 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11, 12, 18, 19 AUG) - 12:00
Through everyday conversation, hilarious comedy, and music-hall style songs, we learn from four working-class women about their lives, husbands, technology and the approaching New Year in this time capsule of Glasgow in the 1950s. The show pays tribute to the unsung domestic labour of women, and the importance of female friendships – both of which keep it relevant today – along with the iconic comedy lines recited throughout Scotland. Laugh and cry along with Tony Roper's loveable characters in this nostalgic show, steeped in Scottish culture and social history, which continues to entertain local audiences and tourists alike.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Big Yin

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theatre, Musical Comedy

Mr Woody's Last Lesson: Confessions of a Teacher

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 11, 12, 18, 19 AUG) - 16:00
Buckle up, folks. After 23 years of holding it together, this teacher is finally off duty... and off the rails. A classroom meltdown like no other – unhinged rants, bad decisions, and a music lesson with more chaos than a school camp. Expect mischievous puppets and brutally honest comedy from a burnt-out teacher on the edge. If you've ever wanted to tell a helicopter parent to zip it, this show is for you! Warning: Explicit language and the kind of storytelling that makes a 4pm staff meeting almost tolerable.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Bothie

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international

Best Cult Ever: Leah Renee

30 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 12, 18 AUG) - 17:40
Surprise-filled, punchline dense comedy: Best Cult Ever is the show for the cult curious. Polygamy? More like Polyga-WEEEE! Hold on to your name tags! Get on in here for the silliest show written and performed by a former Mormon. A comedian returning for her fourth Edinburgh Fringe, Leah Renee's past shows have been described as: funny, daring and quite surprising in places with laugh-out-loud moments of wryness, poignancy, shock and tenderness.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Ruby

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revue, Musical Comedy

I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical

31 JUL - 24 AUG (NOT 6, 13, 20 AUG) - 17:45
Award-winning musical comedy revue revealing all about musicals and the people who love them – on both sides of the curtain! Updated for 2025 with new songs. Lauded with an unprecedented 50 five-star reviews for multiple sell-out Fringe and London seasons. By Alexander S Bermange, directed and choreographed by Aaron Renfree (The Masked Singer, Now That's What I Call A Musical). 'Flawless' ***** (BritishTheatre.com). 'Sharp satire... undiluted fun' ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). 'Delightful' ***** (BroadwayWorld.com). 'Hilarious... wonderfully witty!' ***** (EdinburghGuide.com). 'Crisp, perfect, immaculate' ***** (MusicalTalk, podcast). 'Full of wit and pastiche' ***** (TheArtsDesk.com).

Location Gilded Balloon at the Museum

subvenue Auditorium

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compilation, stand-up

Late'n'Live

31 JUL - 25 AUG - 23:00
The original late-night show returns with stellar line-ups of your favourite acts from the festival, hosted by the best MCs in the country, every single night of the Fringe. 'The best late-night show on the Fringe' (Scotsman). 'A Fringe institution for a reason' (TheRecs.co.uk). Previous acts include Johnny Vegas, Bill Bailey, Rich Hall, Jason Byrne, Mawaan Rizwan, John Bishop, Larry Dean, Maisie Adam, Reuben Kaye, Jordan Grey, Viggo Venn and just about every notable name in comedy. Late'n'Live guarantees an unforgettable night of live comedy and is an essential addition to any Fringe bucket list.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Other Yin

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music, interactive

Woody's Bush Cabaret – for Kids!

1 - 24 AUG (NOT 11, 12, 18, 19 AUG) - 10:20
Word's out on the Aussie bush telegraph: Woody and his crazy friends are rolling out a cabaret experience like no other! Sing, dance, and strum along in a wild musical adventure reminiscent of a Year 3 campfire singalong or a school assembly where the principal's only rule is to have fun. It's packed with silly songs, chaotic comedy and Aussie critters galore. But kids, watch out for Ralph the Tiger Snake in the dangerous part of the show! Woody's Bush Cabaret from Down Under unites families in a heartfelt celebration of music and imagination.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Dram

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improv, theatre

ShakeItUp: The Improvised Shakespeare Show

1 - 25 AUG - 15:00
Shakespeare hasn't written anything new for an age, so we thought we would give him a hand... Using your audience suggestions and our overactive imaginations, we create a brand-new Shakespeare play live on stage, complete with live music, songs and plenty of laughs. Join ShakeItUp for bard-based bedlam! 'Quick-witted, inexhaustible and absolutely hysterical' ***** (LondonTheatreReviews.co.uk). 'Brilliantly bonkers! One of the best improvised shows at the Fringe' ***** (WestEndBestFriend.co.uk).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Other Yin

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Character Comedy

Jack Docherty in The Chief – Still No Apologies

1 - 17 AUG - 19:00
BAFTA award-winning star of Scot Squad, The Chief, and Absolutely, returns to the Fringe after a 2024 sell-out run. Favourite bits, classic bits, improvised bits and bits that aren't even really bits but are, nonetheless, still bits. 'An incredible hour of laughs' (Edinburgh Evening News). 'It's simply impossible not to love what he does on stage' (Scotsman). 'Masterful, superlative' (Chortle.co.uk). 'A hugely talented comic performer' (Sunday Times). 'Docherty's mighty presence fills the room' (ThreeWeeks). 'A maverick genius' (Herald). ***** (Daily Business) **** (Guardian). **** (List). **** (Evening Standard). **** (Skinny).

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue McIntosh

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storytelling, stand-up

Michael Elsener: How to Live in Paradise

1 - 21 AUG (NOT 11 AUG) - 20:20
Who doesn't dream of it? Clean cities, punctual trains, a functioning healthcare system – everyday life in Switzerland, for many a world far away. Luckily, Michael Elsener, the "Swiss John Oliver" and recent support act for Russell Howard, is here to reveal the path to paradise – and where the Swiss heaven turns into hell. The political scientist and queer artist delivers off-beat perspectives and spot-on impressions, combining incisive analysis with razor-sharp punchlines. Can his secret Swiss recipe save the world?

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Ruby

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improv, Family-friendly

The Oxford Imps

4 - 24 AUG - 13:40
A fun, fast-paced comedy show, made up entirely on the spot from your suggestions! The Imps have been bringing critically acclaimed improv performances and up-and-coming comedic talent to the Fringe for over ten years. These high-energy shows come packed with Whose Line Is It Anyway?-style games, brought to life by Oxford's wittiest minds. Be prepared for improvised scenes, punning, raps, Shakespeare, musicals and much more! Perfect for teens and families.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Ruby

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drama, verbatim

Managed Approach

8 - 24 AUG (NOT 15 AUG) - 13:40
In 2014, the UK's first legalised red-light district opened in the Holbeck area of Leeds. Sex workers in Holbeck were able to operate with police supervision and without fear of arrest between the hours of 8pm and 6am. This initiative was known as the Managed Approach. Managed Approach is a powerful play that blends verbatim interviews with sex workers and a fictional story about a mother and daughter in Holbeck, Leeds. A 'joyous show' ***** (Varsity) that offers a deeply human perspective on one of the UK's most controversial urban policies.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Coorie

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Mhairi Black: Work in Progress

9 - 24 AUG - 12:00
Following her sold-out Fringe run and a smash-hit tour, MP-turned-comedian Mhairi Black returns with some fresh material. 'Political catharsis at its absolute finest' (BroadwayBaby.com). 'Quick, funny and brilliant' (ThreeWeeks). NextUp Biggest Award in Comedy nominee.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Bramley

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comedy, stand-up

James Campbell's Comedy 4 Kids: Reducks

11 - 17 AUG - 11:30
James invented the idea of proper stand-up for children in 2001. For the last ten years he has mainly been concentrating on writing funny books and parenting his own children. Now he is bored of that and returns to the world of festivals to reboot comedy for kids with a face full of wrinkles and a reconstructed show that may include exploding penguins, seventeen ways to eat jam and songs to sing to the worms in your dog's bottom.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Doonstairs

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sketch show, Character Comedy

Jess Carrivick: For Your Consideration

11 - 25 AUG - 13:20
A character comic 'gearing up to conquer' (Dawn French). In 2024, her WIP Attention Seeker was a ***** 'masterclass' (GetYourCoatsOn.com) at the Edinburgh Fringe. This BAFTA Rocliffe shortlist writer hosts the sell-out night Laugh Lines and is a Sketch Off 2025 finalist. Her debut solo hour, directed by Elf Lyons, takes you back to when stories were for family, not viral views. Inspired by her own home movies, Jess creates a universe of characters once meant for her living room. Each vignette is a cinematic tribute to her dressing-up box.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Bothie

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a cappella

Aquapella

11 - 23 AUG (NOT 18 AUG) - 16:15
Fresh from their acclaimed performances across the UK and on Broadway, Aquapella is back at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for their ninth consecutive year, ready to captivate audiences once again. With breathtaking harmonies, unique arrangements and boundless energy, this award-winning a cappella group brings an electrifying mix of vocal music to the stage. Whether delivering heart-wrenching ballads or upbeat pop anthems, their passion and precision make for an unforgettable viewing experience. From moments of raw vulnerability to pure exhilaration, Aquapella takes audiences on an emotional journey like no other. 'Forget Pitch Perfect, Aquapella are the real deal' (TheWeeReview.com).

Location Gilded Balloon at the Museum

subvenue Auditorium

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stand-up

Christopher Hall: Work in Progress

11 - 24 AUG - 19:15
After touring the UK and Ireland last year with his debut hour, Girl for All Seasons, Christopher is working on a new show – a new show everyone, can you believe it, a new show! Right now, it's a work in progress. I mean, in a lot of ways, aren't we all works in progress? Think about it. He'll say things today that he's never said before, and most likely will never say again, but you'll be there to witness it, and that's kismet. Ooh, that's a great name for a show... Write that down...

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Dram

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compilation, stand-up

So You Think You're Funny? Competition – Heats

13 Aug (16:00 & 19:00) 14- 18 Aug (19:00) 20 Aug (16:00)
The search for comedy's next big star continues as contestants battle for a place in the Grand Final of the UK's biggest newcomer competition! Following months of regional showcases across the UK and Ireland, see the future faces of comedy before they make it big! 'Showcasing the stand-up stars of the future' (Comedy.co.uk). Previous winners and finalists from the competition include Aisling Bea, Tommy Tiernan, Maisie Adam, Peter Kay, Lee Mack, Fern Brady, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Sara Pascoe, Daniel Sloss and more.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Doonstairs

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improv

Looking for Laughs

13 - 25 AUG - 20:20
'It's real, it's raw, it's hilarious' (Scotsman). Featured on BBC Scotland. It's Love Island meets Whose Line Is It Anyway. Two singles are blindfolded. Will it be love at first sight or a slow-motion car crash? One blind date. Four comics. Unscripted, unhinged, unforgettable. 'A jackpot for people watchers' (USAToday.com).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Blether

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stand-up, theatre

Thirty, Flirty and Dying

13 - 25 AUG - 22:20
Beth and Rhoni are dead. Joking! They're 30. But please don't mention it. Friends since they hopped off the train at Liverpool Lime Street with a dream and a side fringe, they've seen each other through every ill-informed fashion, relationship, and life choice. Never ones to back down from theatricality, this stand-up split hour is a nostalgic trip through 2015-2025 for anyone who is 30, has been 30, or dreads turning 30 – complete with photographic evidence and confessions. What better way to commemorate the moments that make them die with embarrassment than a funeral?

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Snug

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new writing, live music

Mary: A Gig Theatre Show

14 - 21 AUG - 21:00
Through powerful original music and spoken word, a folk-rock band retells Mary Queen of Scots' story. The bold gig theatre show searingly questions what Mary faced at the hands of men, offering a mesmerising and riotous response. The hit show is back for 2025, following acclaimed sold-out runs at the 2024 Fringe and the Traverse Theatre in December. 'Superbly anarchic' **** (Scotsman). 'A fifty-minute riot' **** (Herald). 'A big night in a small room' **** (Stage). 'Stunning music and beautiful storytelling come together impeccably' ***** (TheatreAndTonic.co.uk).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Other Yin

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multimedia, Game Show

Hot Rubber

15 - 16 AUG - 23:30
Eight comedians pit their homemade remote-control cars against one another in the world's smallest demolition derby. The winner of each race takes one step closer to glory, the loser has their car smashed with a baseball bat. The cult-hit show returns to Gilded Balloon, hosted by Hudson Hughes and Imogen Truselle with live music from Formula One Direction.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Doonstairs

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cabaret, LGBTQ+

Mark T Cox: Paddy Daddy

16 - 19 AUG - 22:00
Paddy Daddy returns... Four nights only! Join very busy, very famous international cabaret star Mark T Cox for a juicy hour of comedy, filth and pop bangers, exploring the joys and horrors of contemporary gay life in rural Ireland. Tales of school scandals, secret affairs, and too many late-night kisses in a Ford Fiesta. With original music and pop icons – J Lo, Kylie, and of course, The Corrs. One for the gays, the girlies, and your newly woke Irish Mammy. 'Gloriously camp cabaret' **** (Irish Times).

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Dram

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Fred MacAulay in Conversation

18 - 24 AUG - 13:15
Fred MacAulay, one of Scotland's best-loved stand-ups, is back with his live chat show. Joining Fred each day will be stars from the worlds of sport, entertainment, business and politics – the colourful characters he has encountered along the way in his illustrious 30-year career. 'I so enjoyed In Conversation last Fringe,' said Fred, 'it was the perfect mix of guests and audience, who helped make each show truly unique.' Featuring different guests every day, including returning favourites from 2017-19. 'Brilliantly surreal comedy' (Scotsman). 'One of the best comedians Britain has produced' (Richard Osman).

Location Gilded Balloon at the Museum

subvenue Auditorium

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political, stand-up

Abigail Rolling: Shit Lawyer

18 - 25 AUG - 18:20
Dark. Funny. Underfunded. And that's just Abby. The criminal justice system is too. After thirty years practicing criminal defence law, Shit Lawyer returns to give unsolicited advice to the Government in its search for bold and innovative approaches to "speed up justice" and "keep streets safe". Can her outrageous and unorthodox suggestions reverse the crisis in our courts?

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Nip

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drama

Rodney Black: Who Cares? It's Working

18 - 25 AUG - 19:40
In the comedy world, where controversy is king, when does the joke stop being funny? Rodney Black's career is booming, thanks to a money-hungry manager and the seemingly impenetrable defence that it's all 'just a joke!' But when a super-fan makes headlines, Rodney's darkest joke becomes nothing to laugh about... Tackling cancel culture, misogyny and what we find funny, 'it's difficult. It will grab audiences, and it doesn't let go' **** (NorthWestEnd.co.uk). 'A big and bold writer to watch' (Nick Blood, Marvel). Award-winning new writing, with a flare for the provocative.

Location Gilded Balloon Patter House

subvenue Nip

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compilation, stand-up

So You Think You're Funny? Competition - Grand Final

21 AUG - 19:30
Finalists battle it out to take the crown in the climactic stage of the UK's most prestigious comedy newcomer competition! Following months of regional showcases around the UK and Ireland, see comedy's rising stars give their best performances in a bid to win So You Think You're Funny? 2025. 'Showcasing the stand-up stars of the future' (Comedy.co.uk). Previous winners and finalists from the competition include Aisling Bea, Tommy Tiernan, Maisie Adam, Peter Kay, Lee Mack, Fern Brady, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Sara Pascoe, Daniel Sloss and more.

Location Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower

subvenue Orchard