Craig Hill marks his 25th year at the Edinburgh Fringe!

Craig Hill, that ebullient stalwart of Scottish comedy, has announced his much-anticipated return to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for its 2024 iteration. This marks Hill’s 25th consecutive year at the festival, cementing his status not only as a fixture, but a beloved highlight of Edinburgh’s August. Known for his vivacious stage presence and incisive wit, Hill regards the festival as the commencement of his creative year. He was kind enough to answer a few questions from theQR about his 2024 show, Craig Hill: I’ve Been Sitting On This For A While!

“For me, it’s where a new show starts and I think now more than ever I enjoy the process of writing and putting it together,” Hill explains, revealing his remarkably enduring passion for crafting new comedy.

This year, Hill is set to grace the stage at Just the Tonic, a venue that has been masterfully transformed from a church into a prime spot for comedy. Hill lavishes praise on the venue for its attention to the details that matter to performers…

“It’s always the venue. And Just The Tonic have done a great job of making that converted church into a great comedy venue. They’ve really paid attention to detail and made sure the huge windows are blacked out, the height of the stage is right and the lighting and the sound are spot on. So any venue that cares as much as they do, gets a thumbs up from me!”

Fresh from a tour in Australia, Hill is keen to weave new elements into his Edinburgh act. Inspired by his overseas experiences, he plans to incorporate full cabaret-style performances and a deeply personal song…

“Well, the producers in Oz encouraged me to do a couple of things outside my comfort zone, like including a full cabaret-style song and a heartfelt song that meant a lot to me and I was pleasantly surprised that the audience went with me on that, much more than I thought they would. I’ve always had a wee element of music in my shows but never done a full song before, so I reckon it’s inspired me to bring that in to my Edinburgh Fringe show this year. That was the definite high of going to Oz!”

“I’ve always had a wee element of music in my shows but never done a full song before…”
Craig Hill

Addressing the perennial challenges of the Fringe, Hill highlights the issue of affordability. He suggests that making accommodation more accessible for performers and audiences would significantly enhance the festival’s inclusivity and overall atmosphere…

“Well, the most obvious one is making accommodation affordable for both the performers and also the audiences visiting. The Edinburgh Fringe is such a great Festival they has a buzz like no other and I love to see so many people from around the world in the shows.”

Despite the arduous demands of performing 23 nights consecutively, Hill cherishes the rigorous Fringe schedule for the unique opportunity it provides to refine his craft…

“Well, I kinda consider it the start of my year. For me, it’s where a new show starts and I think now more than ever I enjoy the process of writing and putting it together. I actually, even after all these years, have a laugh writing it and fleshing out wee ideas I’ve had throughout the year, so the prospect of doing the Fringe again excites me. I like the discipline of having to be ‘on it’ for a month. There’s nothing like 23 nights in a row to hone your show, your delivery and your impro. “

“There’s nothing like 23 nights in a row to hone your show, your delivery and your impro.”
Craig Hill

Having built a substantial following over two decades, Hill still views his relationship with his audience as symbiotic, contributing significantly to the evolution of his performances…

“I just think it’s a privilege to have a faithful audience at The Fringe. I’m aware of how hard the Fringe is without that, so I don’t take it for granted. It might sound weird, but I kinda think if it as ‘our show’, mine and the audience’s, not my show because we have a laugh together. I suppose that’s what keeps me doing it. I enjoy it!”

So there we are, Craig Hill’s 25th year at the Fringe finds him as energized, and motivated as ever. If you’ve seen him before, or if you’re thinking of seeing him for the first time, it seems you can look forward to fresh comedy from a big name in comedy who’s not resting on his laurels.

All Images: Steve Ullathorne