In the run up to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and during it, it can be hard not to get swept up in the runaway mine train of round-ups that hero the newest acts emerging onto the scene.
Call me old-fashioned, but there is also merit in following returning comedians along an evolutionary trajectory over time, as well as new formats from seasoned podcasters, the opposite of a rotating comedy trade show goldfish bowl, if you will.
Sure, in my early 20s, my festival strategy heavily relied on playing half-price-ticket-hut roulette. I remember seeing a play about a stapler that turned out to be the highlight of the festival.
But in 2025, if I have to navigate crowds, tourists and queues out of the door in Pizza Express aged 38, I'd like my comedy to do what it says on the tin. Familiarity is my friend, and I'm happy to follow the journeys of those who come back to the fringe when creativity strikes, whether finished show or a work-in-progress.
For that reason, I'd recommend checking out some highly seasoned pros for the ageing millennial, who are the glue (I could even say veterans) of alternative comedy.
Sketch show queens Siblings are back with the promise of their most raucous show yet, Dreamweavers (Pleasance Baby Grand, 20:20). As I've said in a previous review for Entertainment Focus, ‘The push and pull between each half of Siblings adds a dimension of unlimited creative potential onstage’. This remains the case, as we can expect ‘sketch comedy gone dream-state – expect cracked-open brains, backflips of the mind, and a knock(ed)-out hour of chaotic brilliance'.
It's refreshing to hear of emerging podcast formats that translate well to a live audience. Fans of anarchic 90s sitcom Bottom won’t want to miss this one show only live edition of the acclaimed Talking Bottom podcast, Talking Bottom LIVE (Underbelly Bristo Square, Sun 24 Aug, 3.10pm). Hosted by Paul Tanter, Angela Pearson and Mat Brooks, authors of Talking Bottom: A Guide to the Cult Sitcom, the show features a must see interview with comedy legend Lee Cornes, Dick Head from Bottom, and roles in Red Dwarf and The Young Ones. Since 2018, Talking Bottom (hailed as “Podcast of the Week” by The Guardian and Metro) has celebrated Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson’s outrageous mix of slapstick and nob gags. Don’t miss this one-off live show.
PALESTINE: Peace de Resistance marks Sami Abu-Wardeh’s (Channel 4’s The Sheikh) welcome return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Sami brings a 70-minute mix of clowning, stand-up, storytelling, and political satire to the Pleasance Dome (30 July–24 August at 21:45). Drawing on his life as a Palestinian born in exile and his family’s ties to resistance, Sami explores colonialism, conflict, and human rights with humour, absurdity, and insight. Expect cocktails, puppets, and a cast of Mediterranean and Arab characters in this unmissable show.
Jordan Brookes: Until the Wheels Come Off (WIP) is back again, where he is “busking at the gates of hell” with a work in progress that might change every night or stay the same. Who knows? Need I say more? Go see this show. Catch him at the Baby Grand, Pleasance (30 July–24 August at 10:50pm).
Thanyia Moore: August (Mock the Week, Alma’s Not Normal) Following a 10-year build-up to her debut show, Thanyia suffered a medical emergency. Her new show, August, shines a light on what happened – a powerful, not-to-be-missed hour about mental strength, the female body, and celebrating the NHS in Scotland. Thanyia is a Comedy Breakthrough Award-winner (Vault Festival 2023) and Best Show nominee (Leicester Comedy Festival 2024). Contains strong language and sensitive themes relating to miscarriage. Catch her at Pleasance Courtyard – Upstairs, 17:40.
For more information about this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme, visit https://www.edfringe.com/
