How will the audience remember you the morning after?

People who come to see Mary: A Gig Theatre Show will STILL be tapping their feet the morning after! From the transcendent harmonies to the infectious drum beats, every song in the Marys sing is a HIT.

What misconceptions do you think people have about you/your show – would you like to clear them up?

We are not Six The Musical! While we love musicals (especially musicals about historical women), our show is made up of actor-musicians who play in a live folk-rock band. We use spoken word and original music to tell the story in a way more laid-back environment than in a commercial musical – dare we say… we’re way more rock and roll?

How do you keep your performances fresh every night?

Just like at a music gig, every crowd brings a different energy to the show, and during our loudest and angriest song we invite the crowd to sing with us! Will they belt with the Marys, or leave them standing awkwardly in silence? Oh, and our Mary Stuart is promising to wear differently coloured tartan tights for every performance…

About the show

Mary: A Gig Theatre Show

Date(s): Aug 12-17

Time(s): 22:25 (50 minutes)

Location: theSpace @ Symposium Hall – Annexe

What do you/your show do to make an audience’s heart beat faster?

We keep it pacy, punchy and the music is banging

What coffee would you/your show be, and why?

It would be a hazelnut, oak latte as it’s nutty, comforting and warm

How will the audience remember you the morning after?

As a fast and fizzy show that makes you think about who you are and how much you need or want a relationship

About the show

Pillock

Date(s): Aug 1-25

Time(s): 18:25 (1 hour)

Location: Assembly Rooms – Front Room

What brings a nice show like yours to a place like the Edinburgh Fringe?

The Edinburgh Fringe festival just seems like a magical place to showcase my show. People from all over the world are in the audience. I get to see and interact with other comedians showcasing their brilliant shows. I can’t imagine a place with more joy and camaraderie.

What do you/your show do to make an audience’s heart beat faster?

I delve into some pretty deep family secrets that would shock even the most steel-hearted. I actually read things in preparation and research for the show that still have me reeling. I keep thinking, ‘No! That couldn’t have happened!’. But it’s all ultimately hilarious and I eagerly await audiences’ reactions.

How do you keep your performances fresh every night?

Having fun in front of a new audience every night is what keeps it fresh for me. You never know the energy the audience or even a particular audience member will bring. It always keeps you on your feet.

About the show

Isabella Charlton: So, My Dad F*cked The Nanny

Date(s): Jul 31 Aug 1-11, 13-25

Time(s): 21:40 (1 hour)

Location: Gilded Balloon Patter House – Blether

If you/your show were a school subject what would you/it be and why?

I think my show would be Fine Art. That sounds really arrogant – let me explain why it’s not. I did Fine Art at school – there was no one cool in Fine Art. It’s where all the awkward, weird kids would congregate and hope we were channeling it into something artistic and meaningful. I definitely didn’t, I think my final piece was a mask of my own face – very edgy, not at all embarrassing – so you could consider this a redo.

What misconceptions do you think people have about you/your show – would you like to clear them up?

I’ve been told by friends they describe me as ‘really nice when you get to know her.’ I’m essentially the human version of when you recommend a tv show you say only gets good in season 6. I think I just take a while to warm up to people – my whole show is about the exterior I’ve built up, and now I’m trying to knock it down.

How do you keep your performances fresh every night?

I want the show to develop as I perform it over the fringe. If some crazy person decided to come to both my first and last shows, I’d want them to feel like the show had ‘grown up’ over the month almost. Also, comedy is all I want to do! I can’t imagine getting bored being able to perform every night, I’m incredibly lucky and it always feels exciting (but also, maybe show me this in September).

About the show

Hannah Platt – Defence Mechanism

Date(s): Jul 31 Aug 1-25

Time(s): 20:10 (1 hour)

Location: Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker Two

What coffee would you/your show be, and why?

My show would be a quadruple espresso. Industrial shot of adrenaline straight to the amygdala. Full fight or flight mode engaged. You’ll either shout at the top of your lungs or have a panic attack. No middle ground. I cannot stress enough, it’s like being punched in the face with noise.

What misconceptions do you think people have about you/your show – would you like to clear them up?

The show poster is me sat down on a chair, holding a microphone, quietly sipping whiskey. So people think it’s a relaxing show. WRONG! It’s a deeply stressful hour of deafening music and real concern for my physical safety. Less of a sound bath, more like being waterboarded with screams. Lots of people can’t stand it. You know what – don’t come.

What do you/your show do to make an audience’s heart beat faster?

I shout raps very loud over very loud music. At 2pm in the afternoon. For an hour. It’s a real assault on the senses. I’ve also been known to bring audience members onstage, attempt amateur gymnastics while rapping, and even crowd surf with no forewarning. So it is, to be blunt, an extremely stressful show to watch. Not suitable for pregnant women or those with a pre-existing heart condition.

About the show

MC Hammersmith: The MC Stands For Middle Class

Date(s): Aug 1-5, 7-12, 14-19, 21-25

Time(s): 13:55 (1 hour)

Location: Monkey Barrel Comedy – Monkey Barrel 1

What coffee would you/your show be, and why?

If my show were a coffee, it would be a cappuccino spiked with the antivenom necessary to save your life, having just been bitten by a Mojave rattlesnake—because you will literally die if you don’t consume it. HURRY, YOU FOOL!!!

What brings a nice show like yours to a place like the Edinburgh Fringe?

After blowing the lid off the U.S. government’s top-secret cloning program, I—Shitty Mozart, the botched clone of the legendary Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart—had to hastily flee America to avoid imminent persecution. Luckily, I’ve found refuge at the Gilded Balloon Patter House, a venue that doesn’t have an extradition treaty with the U.S., where I can safely share my shockingly true story. And my fart jokes.

What misconceptions do you think people have about you/your show – would you like to clear them up?

A common misconception about me is that I’m not, in fact, the botched clone of Mozart. (Ha! As if!) That I made it all up. (Ha! Fat chance!) That I’m actually just an unwell man who dresses up as Mozart and plays the character of a musically challenged buffoon who was cloned from one of Mozart’s pubes because I’m too afraid to address my own personal struggles, inner turmoil, and irritable bowel syndrome.

About the show

Shitty Mozart

Date(s): Jul 31 Aug 1-26

Time(s): 23:00 (1 hour)

Location: Gilded Balloon Patter House – Nip

How do you keep your performances fresh every night?

Live performance is like sex. Every partner adds a new dimension to the fulfilment of both. Think of my show like your next partner.

What brings a nice show like yours to a place like the Edinburgh Fringe?

Edinburgh is a fine city that deserves only the best. My show is like the city of Edinburgh built hilly ground to give people a challenge. My show makes people think and laugh and think again making the experience memorable just like Edinburgh.

How will the audience remember you the morning after?

With aching jaws from laughing, and then remembering what they were laughing at. My show is like no other. I have a different perspective and charities for Africa look different for Africans.

About the show

Njambi McGrath: Benevolence

Date(s): Aug 1-12, 14-26

Time(s): 15:00 (1 hour)

Location: Gilded Balloon Patter House – Blether

What brings a nice show like yours to a place like the Edinburgh Fringe?

I love coming to the fringe every year and I am always exciting to try out a new show. I love the diversity of audiences, you have no idea how it is going to go every day, it’s a roller coaster but a fun one. It just makes you a better artist and I am really excited for people to laugh at the disaster of this fella attempting to find love, but maybe finding some more important things along the way.

What do you/your show do to make an audience’s heart beat faster?

There are many moments in talking about sex that you mightn’t want your parents at. But my Dad has seen it and loves it. I love to talk about sex, it’s fun, it’s natural and it doesn’t always have to be in a crude way. I like to poke at the fears we have of talking about sex, and that definitely gets everyone’s hearts racing!

What misconceptions do you think people have about you/your show – would you like to clear them up?

That because I am a man, and I am considered a ‘straight white male’, that I am confident all the time, that I am tough, that I am macho, that I think I have it all together. I don’t! I am only saying this outloud to myself recently, I am extremely sensitive and for the first time ever I am allowing myself to realise that there is nothing wrong with that.

About the show

Stephen Mullan: Rascal

Date(s): Jul 31 Aug 1-11, 13-25

Time(s): 19:45 (1 hour)

Location: Assembly George Square – The Box

What misconceptions do you think people have about you/your show – would you like to clear them up?

Because of the show’s name, marketing and our good old friend the Instagram Algorithm, I get a lot of people DMing me asking me to Join Their Business or be part of a group of their #Girl Gang. Let it be forever known: I DO NOT WANT TO JOIN A PYRAMID SCHEME. I AM NOT A REAL GIRL BOSS. IT’S FAKE. IT’S ALL FAKE. IT’S A THEATRE SHOW. A PLAY. LEAVE ME ALONE.

If you/your show were a school subject what would you/it be and why?

Year 4 art, maybe? Mix together some colours and glue and sequins and glitter sparkles, call it art and hope your Mum sticks it on the fridge?

How do you keep your performances fresh every night?

This is actually maybe quite cute. I have a growing playlist where I ask anyone involved with the show or who hangs out with me at the bar afterwards what their pump up song is and I play it in the dressing room whilst downing 2 bottles of Lucozade and telling myself I have to be good otherwise I’ll have to go back to an office job.

About the show

I Really Do Think This Will Change Your Life

Date(s): Jul 31 Aug 1-12, 14-20, 22-26

Time(s): 12:15 (1 hour)

Location: Pleasance Dome – 10 Dome

How do you keep your performances fresh every night?

I have no choice — they’re fresh every night because in every show I am at my limit! I’ve done shows with downtime and calmer bits, but not this show. I gave myself the challenge of staging the comedy version of a full-production concert a la Taylor Swift or Dua Lipa, and between all of the singing, dancing, speeches and insane technical elements, I’m so activated that surprises happen no matter what.

How will the audience remember you the morning after?

Trust me, the next morning we will ALL be sore and walking funny. And that’s a promise.

What do you/your show do to make an audience’s heart beat faster?

I threaten to kill myself throughout the show! Yes, really! If that’s not enough for you, there are a lot of fun surprises out of nowhere — I don’t want to give too much away, but multiple things get thrown, there are multiple costume changes and reveals, there are some shocking acrobatics, and I even make a few death threats.

About the show

Ian Lockwood: The Farewell Tour

Date(s): Jul 31 Aug 1-11, 13-26

Time(s): 22:20 (1 hour)

Location: Underbelly, George Square – The Wee Coo