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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 07/10/2026

It's paid in pizza. And exposure obviously.

Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 07/10/2026

Tonight's comedy performance space. I'm assuming we can all agree that it's perfectly set up for standup. [Aside: Go Islanders!]* *This reference solely for Richard Brown.

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 23/09/2026

And please make sure you leave the Christmas 2024 menu accessible. I'll want to look back on that.

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 13/09/2026

Belatedly, the 2026 Fringe Monkey Talent Award (rebrand courtesy of Jake Baker) goes to John Spillane for his show Johnny Hollywood at City Cafe. John, if you message me some contact details I will send you a tiny, underwhelming trophy. But also if you can't be arsed, that is absolutely fine.

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 01/09/2026

2026 Fringe Stats Shows entered: 74 Shows abandoned: 5 Reviews posted: 66 Average mark allocated: 3.1 Smallest audience I was part of: 3 Shortest Hour Show: 45 mins Best Show: Pierre Novellie Show I Most Regretted Missing: Sam Eley Main downtime location: Monkey Barrel Bar

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 31/08/2026

I'm done with Fringe 2026. Hopefully the reviews were of some help & you found something interesting/dodged a bullet as a result. I don't post much Sep-Jul so feel free to Unfollow. I'll hopefully be back in 2027. Thanks to all the performers & to the venue staff. Cheers!

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 31/08/2026

Rob Moriarty: He's the unlikeliest of gays. He warns us the material is dark & he's not wrong. It's misdirect-heavy & he's strong on targeting hypocrisy - Mark Normand fans might enjoy. It's not billed as a WIP but it feels like he's still finding his feet. Very promising (if disturbing). 3.5/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 30/08/2026

Harry Stachini: Delivery is quick, professional & matey but there's no distinct comic voice. The personal anecdotal material is down to earth but isn't challenging any stereotypes. There's no theme, though he does his best at the end to give the impression. The crowd got on better than I did. 2.5/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 28/08/2026

John-Luke Roberts: Expect an hour of clever, whimsical & above all, silly standup. Delivery is rapid but fluid & there's some delightful use of callbacks. Mortality is the through line but he readily embraces tangents & adores an act-out. Accessible & worth catching. PWYW. 3.5/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 28/08/2026

3's Comedy (Mornings): A split bill featuring ex-pat Aussies Peter Jones, Prue Blake & Ty Gray. An easy-going hour of accessible material in a small room. PJ probably offers the most professional product. Maximising a single day at the Fringe? This at 11:15am could be your start. Free Fringe. 2.5/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 28/08/2026

It's the last weekend of the Fringe. Here are some of my favourites you might still get into: Paid: M Brettingham, Mark Thomas, Larry Dean, Jamie Wolf, T Hardikar. Free/PWYW: P Novellie, Tom Ballard, Ayo Adenekan, Seymour Mace, D Tiernan, Chris Kent, Dan Rath, J Hollywood, Jake Baker, Rob Copland.

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 28/08/2026

John Tothill (Close Your Eyes): It's an early WIP so things are quite unstructured. He's in a tent inside a building for a start. There's some chatting/riffing with the crowd, some catty bitching & two bits of material, the main one being about walking the Camino. Mainly for existing fans. 2.5/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 27/08/2026

Phil Ellis: Expect tales from his tragic life, some audience interaction, the odd daft stunt & a bit of singing - just general titting about really. It won't win him new fans but Taskmaster has already done that quite successfully. A pleasantly stupid way to spend an hour. PWYW. 3.5/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 26/08/2026

Alice is great but definitely, defiantly Australian.

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 25/08/2026

Daniel Petrie & Valeria Vulpe: A split bill from 2 very promising comics. DP's delivery is engaging & the frequently-surreal material charms, even if some bits have quite the walkup. VV offers deadpan, precision gags often focused on her Moldovan background. Both are worth catching. PWYW. 3/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 25/08/2026

Jenny Gorelick: Her dating life is the core theme but there are frequent tangents. The "girly girl" persona (her words) won't be for everyone but there's a whipsmart comic mind behind it. It's dense with gags & the callback-heavy wrap-up doesn't overstay its welcome. PWYW. 3.5/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 24/08/2026

Rob Copland: The hour is bookended by theatrical set pieces. In between he reveals his hopes & worries. It's a very physical performance including elements of mime & clowning. The silliness is dialled up high & if you enter wanting to have a good time you should be suitably rewarded. PWYW. 4/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 24/08/2026

Johnny Hollywood: It's billed as entirely improvised & that appears to be the case. There's a small amount of good-natured crowd involvement but he carries the show via his own idiocy. How well it will scale to larger rooms is debatable but in a crowded karaoke dungeon it's tremendous fun. PWYW. 4/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 24/08/2026

Just a heads up - if you were of a mind to get last minute tickets for Michelle Wolf at the Playhouse tonight, they are available at the half price hut. Although you have to call in at the Fringe shop on the High Street, it's a not inconsiderable saving.

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 23/08/2026

George Zacharopoulos: He starts strongly with the best material we've heard about Shiraz (genuinely). After that things lose focus, though he's keen to force a theme onto the anecdotal stories. The wrap-up is wordy & takes forever. He's a reliable comic who I'll catch again. PWYW. 3/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 23/08/2026

Jake Baker: It's an updated version of last year's WIP, focusing on masculinity & the manosphere. Delivery is gentle & nerdy & Mark-Watson-y. The material is well worked with barely 10 seconds between laughs. The addition of the "animal facts" is a delight. His best show yet. PWYW. 4/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 21/08/2026

Richard Stott: He readily flits between topics - identity, self-worth, masculinity, disability & dating. Sad girl coffee mornings goes down very well. Delivery is chatty & upbeat. He is guilty of throwing in some contrived puns without warning. Brace yourself for that. 2.5/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 21/08/2026

Barcelona Comedy Tapas: A bill show featuring around 6 acts plus a host. Their connections to Barcelona will range from non-existent, through living there to long term resident. It's primarily a way for performers to promote their solo shows. You can safely assume you'll get in on PWYW.

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 21/08/2026

Silky: The theme (imposter syndrome) is very loosely linked into the body of the hour - the lies he's told & the consequences. These autobiographical tales could arguably be trimmed of some detail. He seems very nice & the show clips along but it's not an undiscovered gem. 2.5/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 21/08/2026

Visiting the Fringe & looking for suggestions as to what to see? Here are some of my favourites so far: Paid: Madeleine Brettingham, Mark Thomas, Larry Dean, Jamie Wolf, Tarang Hardikar. Free/PWYW: Pierre Novellie, Tom Ballard, Ayo Adenekan, Seymour Mace, Dan Tiernan, Chris Kent, Dan Rath.

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 20/08/2026

Annie Boyle: It's her romantic history with emphasis on coming out & meeting her current girlfriend. Delivery is dry/low energy & she'll comment on her lack of expression. The script is heavily-written - almost every sentence ends in a tiny misdirect. It's not an unpleasant way to spend 50 mins. 3/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 20/08/2026

Dan Rath: Delivery is low energy & there's no sign of a smile or indeed a transition. Expect a series of short jokes, often with a dark focus/twist. There's also something resembling crowd work that he executes extremely well. Fans of Steven Wright or even Todd Barry will probably enjoy. PWYW. 4/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 19/08/2026

Night Mail (WIP): It's VERY much in development. A "cheeky 1940s postman" is the focus but a couple of other characters put in an appearance. The absurdism dial is turned up high - expect material akin to nonsense verse & anti-comedy elements. Odd fun but no mark as it's too embryonic.

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 19/08/2026

Pierre Novellie: Edinburgh Fringe audiences have almost got complacent - of course it'll be another impressive PN show! And it is. He covers what we should expect from autistics, his wedding & (especially) the time he spent in Japan. It's dense, exquisitely-documented standup. PWYW. 4.5/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 19/08/2026

Ian Smith (WIP): A delightfully ramshackle development show, we start by completing today's Wordle, get a fertility update & visit a haunted house. He's quick-witted & self-aware, entirely at ease with the current maturity level of the hour. I'm thrilled he continues to progress. PWYW. 4/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 18/08/2026

I do hope so. I'll be more confident on that after a second viewing of this year's show. Probably doing that early next week.

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 18/08/2026

Same! See you at the ceremony.

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 18/08/2026

Chris Thorburn & Chris Weir: First of 2 WIPs by "a pair of little cuties". CT's delivery is pacey & upbeat, presenting accessible, intelligent, anecdotal material. CW gives us 3 poems, the unlikeliest of screenplays & 2 songs - all excellent if a tad obscene. Catch show 2 on the 19th. 3.5/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 18/08/2026

Stephen Carlin: He's the word "overreaction" made flesh. He barks out indignation on every slight he perceives the world has thrown at him. No real theme but it's solid anecdotal standup by a respected comic in a small room. You could do a lot worse. Free Fringe. 3/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 18/08/2026

Citizen Chen: A gentle, pleasing hour based on her journey from childhood in China to citizenship in Canada. Delivery has the pace of a one woman show rather than standup but there's a decent quota of laughs. Worth catching if the subject (migration/new cultures) piques your interest. PWYW. 3/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 17/08/2026

Danny O'Brien: Expect by-the-book anecdotal standup in a room above a pub. There's no theme & precious little time will be spent on transitions - one section just barrels into the next. The ending is a bit dumbed down but not every comedian is trying to be Stewart Lee. 2.5/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 17/08/2026

Dan Tiernan: He revisits his appearance & sexuality, leading on to his keeness to have a boyfriend. Bafflingly the bulk of the set concerns his love of crystals. He's a compelling watch, confident to let silences hang in the air. Catch him before he's too big for the Fringe. PWYW. 4/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 16/08/2026

I did. This is very much a follow-up where he rues the decisions his previous self made. He laments the loss of his houses and cars and...dogs.

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 16/08/2026

Mark Silcox (Gold Trading Sucks): How to introduce MS? He presents an ineptly-produced PowerPoint lecture on how to live your life in a monotone. There will be at least 2 tediously-long video clips. He will finish by meditating for 5 mins. There will be no jokes. This is how cults start. FF. 3/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 16/08/2026

Dead parent (ideally dad) 40 minute sad bit Crowbarred in callbacks Forcing a narrative into the show

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 16/08/2026

Seymour Mace (Stickers): In a surprising turn of events he has written actual standup & invites us to select the order. It's an intense, very sweary performance, showcasing the workings of his peculiar mind. As a long time fan, I'm delighted to see him this accessible. Free Fringe. 4/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 16/08/2026

Chris Kent: A textbook example of anecdotal storytelling. A number of tales are relayed, loosely interlinked but the main one concerns fertility issues. Delivery & timing are both excellent & it engages the whole way through. Minimal Fringe show gimmicks are in play. A very solid hour. FF. 4/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 15/08/2026

Tarang Hardikar: It's a gentle, innocent (clean) set with frequent flights of fancy and many act-outs (Izzard fan?). He is guilty of going off at random, some might say contrived, tangents simply so he can call back to them at the end. An interesting talent I was not previously aware of. 3.5/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 15/08/2026

Emmeline Downie: It's a single character piece in two acts about a life coach. The comic performance is decent but the character isn’t especially well-drawn & it feels like a 5 minute bit written to an hour. Elements of the crowd were suspiciously into it. I wasn't. 2.5/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 15/08/2026

He's done it before? Jeezo.

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 15/08/2026

It's in the Comedy section of the guide so...

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 15/08/2026

Harun Musho’d: He reads excerpts from the autobiographies of PMs Cameron to Sunak, pointing out double standards & inaccuracies. This might be catnip for politics dweebs but for the comedy cool kids this was a struggle. Much of the hour is listening to text read aloud. FF. 1.5/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 15/08/2026

Robin Boot's Rockomedy: It's a riff-heavy mix of original comic songs, parodies & pastiche, plus, regrettably, some puns. It's a pleasant enough way to pass a lunchtime hour, particularly if you're not pun-phobic, but it's not a destination show. Free Fringe. 2.5/5

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Fringe Monkey @fringemonkey.net · 14/08/2026

Andre's Guide to Women: The protagonist is instantly recognisable as a dick, making it an uphill task for us to care about him. While the performance is decent & there's merit in the concept, the character is thinly-drawn & the script is all over the place. Free Fringe. 2.5/5

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