Ayo Adenekan returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with a “romantic hour” of finely observed comedy titled Homeland Insecurity, running through August 30 at Cab Vol 2 at Monkey Barrel Comedy. According to press materials, the show explores summer romances, chased dreams, and messy endings following the Scottish comic and SNL writer’s sellout debut, Black Mediocrity.
Character Comedy and Personal Narratives at the Fringe
Kirsty Mann arrives at the Red lecture theatre at Summerhall with Corpse, a real-life one-woman comedy horror about buying a house that comes with a ghost. The production won the best theatre award at the Adelaide Fringe. Over at the Queen Dome at Pleasance Dome, Demi Adejuyigbe presents Demi Adejuyigbe Sells Out through August 30, tasking himself with the challenge of becoming famous after previously promising audiences a single backflip.
Max Olesker adapts his memoir into Making the Cut at the Pleasance Dome, examining the rollercoaster following his realization that he is not Jewish enough for the Orthodox woman he’s fallen for. Meanwhile, Lizzy Hoo makes her fringe debut at Studio Four at Assembly George Square Studios with Says Hoo?, bringing oversharing Australian storytelling supported by a Melbourne comedy prize win.
Magic, Satire, and Collaborative Performance
Ben Hart brings The Labyrinth to the Palais du Variété at Assembly George Square Gardens, featuring sleight of hand, mind reading, and card trickery. In drag-satire debut Campitalism: Three Gays Try to Fix the Economy at the Attic at Pleasance Courtyard, three financially illiterate LGBTQ+ people demystify finance through BOY Theatre. Dee Allum presents Raumdeuter at Pleasance Courtyard, tackling the World Cup and the trans experience as a follow-up to her debut show, Deadname.
Kwami Odoom and Jack Henry team up for Support Group at The Penny at Gilded Balloon Patter House through August 31. Odoom explores the challenges of fatherhood fresh from Soho Theatre’s Tender, while Henry addresses how to be “gay, sane and sexy at the same time.”
Did you know?
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe hosts diverse international showcases, such as the São Paulo Showcase featuring Brazilian company TF Cia de Dança in Border Bodies at Assembly @ Dance Base, which explores community and togetherness.
Historical Exploration and Contemporary Themes
Emma Howlett directs The Plot at the Summerhall Main Hall, diving into the foiled gunpowder plot of 1605 to examine radicalised young men and cultural storytelling. Jacob Sparrow, casting director for the National Theatre, traces the hard-fought effort to open an AIDS hospice in 90s Suffolk in the time-twisting debut Sanctuary at the Ace Dome at Pleasance Dome, a winner of the Leodis prize for playwrighting.
Hotter Project returns with HAM at the Summerhall Old Lab, presenting a “kinky eco-hijacking” of Hamlet featuring nudity and messy hijinks. Malaika Kegode leads Badgers at Traverse 2, a shape-shifting show exploring true crime obsessions, folk tales, and podcasts created by the team behind Bristol Old Vic’s Outlier. Additionally, The Palestinian Circus: Step and a Half blends Palestinian folk dance with contemporary circus at The Lafayette at Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows in partnership with Medical Aid for Palestine.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Edinburgh Festival Fringe run?
Performances run through August 30 and August 31, depending on the specific venue and production schedule.
Where is Ayo Adenekan performing?
Ayo Adenekan performs Homeland Insecurity at Cab Vol 2 at Monkey Barrel Comedy.
What is the premise of Kirsty Mann’s show?
Kirsty Mann’s Corpse follows a real-life inspired scenario of buying a house that comes with a ghost, combining dark comedy and horror.
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