Questions answered by Aarian Mehrabani.

Q1: Aside from this Quickie, what is the most desperate marketing tactic you plan on using to get bums in seats this August? 280 chars

Using my blind cane to make people think I’m asking for help and then hitting them with a flyer

Q2: Cancel culture has finally come for your show. What sins has it committed?

Revealing the queer secret behind Iranian culture. and putting a blind person on stage…for some that is a sin

Q3: If you brought this show home for the holidays, how would your parents react to them?

They would be so welcoming and accepting to their face. But inside they’d be filled with a deep disappointment, as well as the knowledge that this was inevitable.

Q4: How will the audience remember you the morning after?

The blind show…which they will post about on instagram and wake up to loads of messages from people telling them how good they were for going to support a blind guy.

About the show

Aarian Mehrabani: How’s Your Head?

Date(s): Previews week (Fri 31st July to Thurs 6th Aug) • Week 1 (Fri 7th to Thurs 13th Aug) • Week 2 (Fri 14th to Thur 20th Aug) • Final week(s) (Fri 21st to Mon 31st Aug)

Time(s): Afternoon (Between 12-noon and 6pm)

Ticket type: Paid

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Questions answered by Sophia Wren.

Q1: Aside from this Quickie, what is the most desperate marketing tactic you plan on using to get bums in seats this August? 280 chars

Marketing a one-woman show feels like walking around with your bare arse out desperately screaming ‘DO YOU LIKE THIS!?’ while they physically recoil. In that spirit I will be holding an Arse Exhibition every morning of the Fringe. Hopefully arse in face=bums in seats

Q2: If your show walked into a cocktail bar, what would it order?

A French 75 poured from a breast-shaped coup that was rescued from a skip. The glass is rimmed with crushed anti-psychotics and the dust off a building site. It’s garnished with a badly made rollie and tells everyone it was gifted in primary school

Q3: We all have weird pre-performance rituals. What is yours, and how confused would a normal person be if they walked in on you doing it?

Ten minutes of silent desperate sobbing, asking why I need such validation from strangers. If they are not applauding me I will dissolve into an ethereal mist. Then a seance with Robin Williams to beg him to be my mentor, and depending how the séance’s going, my lover.

Q4: How will the audience remember you the morning after?

They’ll never forget me, I’ll stick to them like glitter, impossible to get rid of and turning up in places I don’t belong. They’ll be delighted, haunted, and mildly concerned for my well-being. They’ll either be planning to propose to me or Googling ‘how to section a comedian’.

About the show

The Best Girl In The World

Date(s): Previews week (Fri 31st July to Thurs 6th Aug) • Week 1 (Fri 7th to Thurs 13th Aug) • Week 2 (Fri 14th to Thur 20th Aug) • Final week(s) (Fri 21st to Mon 31st Aug)

Time(s): Late (After 10pm)

Ticket type: Paid

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Questions answered by Ella Talerico.

Q1: Aside from this Quickie, what is the most desperate marketing tactic you plan on using to get bums in seats this August? 280 chars

We are buying a cheap trash can and covering it with flyers and spreading around little cards that read THIS WOMAN IS RUBBISH, THIS SHOW IS RUBBISH. Because we’re trashy bitches.

Q2: If your show walked into a cocktail bar, what would it order?

A plastic yellow duck, a barely used bralette, and a crushed, empty diet soda can. Crushed moldy carrot bits and powdered painkiller, on the side, plz.

Q3: Cancel culture has finally come for your show. What sins has it committed?

Too horny. Too disgusting. Too ugly.

Q4: All shows will have their tough days. What sophisticated self-care strategies will you employ to survive?

Impulsively order fast fashion then go cry in a dumpster. Maybe doomscroll a little bit before smashing our phones against our heads.

About the show

Dregs

Date(s): Final week(s) (Fri 21st to Mon 31st Aug)

Time(s): Afternoon (Between 12-noon and 6pm)

Ticket type: Paid

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Questions answered by Thea Marie Thorkildsen.

Q1: Aside from this Quickie, what is the most desperate marketing tactic you plan on using to get bums in seats this August? 280 chars

Probably focus heavily on social media ads. Last show I had, I made made two different promos a week, and posted them. It is desperate, but it worked. Some videos did not reach anyone, but others reached alot of people, and I sold tickets.

Q2: The Fringe is horribly expensive. How are you financing this run? Did you remortgage your house, sell your granny, or start an illicit side hustle?

Didn’t need to. I got Free Fringe, so don’t have to pay. The people in the hotel business didn’t agree though. People at the record store didn’t either

Q3: All shows will have their tough days. What sophisticated self-care strategies will you employ to survive?

Gather all the cats I can find, and get them to solve my problems. If the audience doesn’t laugh. Make a deal with a audience member. Give a laugh, get a cat. Make that audience member to recruit another audience member with a cat and so on. I call it a Pyrameowd scheme

Q4: How will the audience remember you the morning after?

With their minds

About the show

Distraction hero – a standup show

Date(s): Week 2 (Fri 14th to Thur 20th Aug) • Final week(s) (Fri 21st to Mon 31st Aug)

Time(s): Afternoon (Between 12-noon and 6pm)

Ticket type: Free

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Questions answered by Nathaniel Jones.

Q1: Aside from this Quickie, what is the most desperate marketing tactic you plan on using to get bums in seats this August? 280 chars

If it’s helps to get people in, there’s some good foot action about midway through the show…

Q2: If your show walked into a cocktail bar, what would it order?

If it’s gay bar, Noah’s walking straight back out. If it’s a Spoons, Noah will have a Blue Lagoon please, no ice.

Q3: Cancel culture has finally come for your show. What sins has it committed?

The sheer amount of homophobia presented in this show puts the fanatics who protest Pride to shame.

Q4: If all the shows running right now were at a massive Fringe house party, what is your show doing?

Noah has started on the karaoke already. Top tip – if you bring your own portable (and battery powered) karaoke machine, no one can tell you to stop hogging it.

About the show

Nathaniel Jones: 2 BY 2

Date(s): Previews week (Fri 31st July to Thurs 6th Aug) • Week 1 (Fri 7th to Thurs 13th Aug) • Week 2 (Fri 14th to Thur 20th Aug) • Final week(s) (Fri 21st to Mon 31st Aug) • Weekend(s)

Time(s): Evening (Between 6pm and 10pm)

Ticket type: Paid

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Questions answered by Peta Joy Jolly.

Q1: Aside from this Quickie, what is the most desperate marketing tactic you plan on using to get bums in seats this August? 280 chars

Usually I’d say sex sells, but given the nature of the show, I️ don’t think that’s quite the way to go! We will speak to everyone in our path and stop at nothing!!!! All tastefully, of course.

Q2: If your show walked into a cocktail bar, what would it order?

A dirty shirley, FOR SURE.

Q3: If you brought this show home for the holidays, how would your parents react to them?

My parents would fill the tree with presents and give it the utmost love and care. Lots of hugs and comfort food!

Q4: If all the shows running right now were at a massive Fringe house party, what is your show doing?

Bringing everyone to the dance floor! One specific dragon may be attempting to bum a cigarette.

About the show

Guns In Dragonland

Date(s): Week 2 (Fri 14th to Thur 20th Aug) • Final week(s) (Fri 21st to Mon 31st Aug)

Time(s): Evening (Between 6pm and 10pm)

Ticket type: Paid

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Questions answered by Trevor Hemmerling.

Q1: Aside from this Quickie, what is the most desperate marketing tactic you plan on using to get bums in seats this August? 280 chars

witchcraft

Q2: If your show walked into a cocktail bar, what would it order?

diet pepsi (if you know, you know)

Q3: Cancel culture has finally come for your show. What sins has it committed?

All seven of the heavy hitters, I hope

Q4: If your show suddenly developed a massive ego and became the biggest diva in the 2026 Fringe, what absurd, hyper-specific item would be mandatory on its dressing room rider?

A framed portrait of the patron saint Dolly Parton (preferably signed)

About the show

Revelation

Date(s): Week 1 (Fri 7th to Thurs 13th Aug)

Time(s): Afternoon (Between 12-noon and 6pm)

Ticket type: Paid

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Questions answered by Tasmin Sarkany.

Q1: Aside from this Quickie, what is the most desperate marketing tactic you plan on using to get bums in seats this August? 280 chars

I’m planning to play the violin on the Royal Mile. Then I’ll pick one person and follow them round until all they can hear, all day, every day, is the greatest violin music ever composed. Before we know it I’ve followed them on holiday to France and the Fringe is but a memory.

Q2: Cancel culture has finally come for your show. What sins has it committed?

The ultimate sin: being completely unaware of cancel culture. My show isn’t so familiar with the modern world of social media, so its version of cancellation is Bach having a street fight with one of his bassoonists in the summer of 1703 (true story).

Q3: If all the shows running right now were at a massive Fringe house party, what is your show doing?

My show is completely unaware of the house party and at home with a large glass of wine. At midnight, when it realises the racket outside is in fact a party, it sneaks in, gets hold of the playlist and switches it to all the best classical hits. The crowd goes wild.

Q4: How will the audience remember you the morning after?

They won’t have to. After our French holiday I’ll declare my love for my audience member from the Royal Mile and we’ll form a band with an accordionist in Paris. We spend the rest of our days performing covers in front of the Notre Dame. Happy days.

About the show

Tasmin Sarkany: Now That’s What I Call Bach!

Date(s): Week 1 (Fri 7th to Thurs 13th Aug) • Week 2 (Fri 14th to Thur 20th Aug) • Final week(s) (Fri 21st to Mon 31st Aug)

Time(s): Afternoon (Between 12-noon and 6pm)

Ticket type: Pay what you can

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Questions answered by Matthew Shiel.

Q1: Aside from this Quickie, what is the most desperate marketing tactic you plan on using to get bums in seats this August? 280 chars

Playing Brahms’ Lullaby and Mozart flawlessly on a minature toy piano as an encore… if you’re not doing something a bit weird, it’s not the Fringe, right?

Q2: If your show walked into a cocktail bar, what would it order?

Our show is set in the 1920s, so alcohol is actually illegal – it’s prohibition! So, probably some of Al Capone’s moonshine made in his bathtub.

Q3: The Fringe is horribly expensive. How are you financing this run? Did you remortgage your house, sell your granny, or start an illicit side hustle?

Luckily (and no doubt this will cause much envy amongst artists), I actually am privileged to call Edinburgh home and live only two streets away from my venue. I can walk so don’t even waste money on taxi fares!

Q4: If your show suddenly developed a massive ego and became the biggest diva in the 2026 Fringe, what absurd, hyper-specific item would be mandatory on its dressing room rider?

One solid silver hat stand, positioned at the exact centre of the dressing room under its own dedicated spotlight, intended for a 1920s fedora with long, colourful peacock feathers, angled so that no fewer than four peacock feathers catch the light at all times!

About the show

The Great Gatsby Experience: Songs of the Jazz Age

Date(s): Final week(s) (Fri 21st to Mon 31st Aug)

Time(s): Afternoon (Between 12-noon and 6pm) • Evening (Between 6pm and 10pm)

Ticket type: Paid

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Questions answered by Sophie Methuen – Turner.

Q1: Aside from this Quickie, what is the most desperate marketing tactic you plan on using to get bums in seats this August? 280 chars

We are going for it.We’ve linked up with charities, persuaded radio shows to talk to us,advertised in newspapers,begging for reviews, we will be in costume accosting random members of the public begging them to see our show. I wouldn’t put it past us to bribe audience members!

Q2: The Fringe is horribly expensive. How are you financing this run? Did you remortgage your house, sell your granny, or start an illicit side hustle?

we hammered on venues doors, said we have protected characteristics and are skint but have a show, can you help. Having negotiated a deal,I run a murder mystery company which sponsored the event,Rhys is doing a blog-can he survive Ed fringe on £500?!

Q3: All shows will have their tough days. What sophisticated self-care strategies will you employ to survive?

The Quiet Between is really tough. It’s a dark comedy about being a neurodivergent actor and it has strong links to suicidal thoughts. We are collaborating with SoBs Charity – they will be supporting both the actors and the audience.

Q4: If you brought this show home for the holidays, how would your parents react to them?

Well, my mum saw the show and didn’t recognise any of it was about me. ( it’s semi autobiographical.) So I’d say my parents would not recognise me, and would be horrified.

About the show

The Quiet Between

Date(s): Previews week (Fri 31st July to Thurs 6th Aug) • Week 1 (Fri 7th to Thurs 13th Aug)

Time(s): Afternoon (Between 12-noon and 6pm)

Ticket type: Paid

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