As we’re halfway through The Fringe now, it is easy to start wondering where did summer go and look forward to pumpkin spice latte season. However, neither the summer nor The Fringe have ended yet, and there’s still plenty of time to make the most of it. This year, The Edinburgh Fringe is back in full swing, as busy as ever and with a myriad of shows to choose from. And being bombarded with flyers on the street can make it even more confusing. Not to worry though, we’ve got you covered: we went to see a number of shows and made a list of five acts that shouldn’t be missed.
Grace Campbell: A Show About Me(n)
7 pm at The Guilded Balloon – Nightclub
Following her sell-out Fringe performance in 2019, Grace Campbell brings a brand new stand-up show about her love life and relationships with men. A highly hilarious performance for both men and women that addresses her complex nature, sex, obsession with relationships, and the reasons behind the issues Grace has been experiencing throughout her life. This relatable and provocative act of unfiltered realism will make you chuckle most of the time: she is authentic, fiery and straightforward; all qualities that make for a memorable show.
Shelf: Hair
7:10 pm at The Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker 3
Shelf are a musical comedy double act consisting of Rachel WD and Ruby Clyde. It is the duo’s first time at The Fringe, yet they absolutely smashed it with the debut performance. With one of the performers being tone deaf, the show is more like a musician and a dancer ensemble, however, this only added to the their comedic charisma. As two childhood friends tell their story with some song elements, Shelf explore how a single haircut can change your life, touch on gender inequality and LGBTQ+ issues in the most innocent, yet silly way, as well as on the scientific gender experiment they’ve accidentally created.
Harriet Kemsley: Honeysuckle Island
9:10 pm at Monkey Barrell – Carnivore 2
Harriet Kemsley brings her own light-hearted take on the beauty industry and self-love. The name of the show is based on a childhood discovery Harriet unravelled recently; a box full of memories from when she was eleven. She designed a dream holiday island destination called Honeysuckle island, yet amongst all the awesome things to do like zip lines and water parks, there was a cellulite machine. Harriet Kemsley tackles not only the unrealistic expectations of society towards women and their looks, but also being a first-time mum to a daughter while jokingly addressing her marriage and beauty solutions.
Mark Watson: This Can’t Be It
9 pm at Pleasance Courtyard – Pleasance One
It’s the beginning of the show, and the mic stopped working: the fact that everyone was already almost crying with laughter is a great testament to Mark and his 21 years of experience as a comedian. Mark is a bit of a legend at The Fringe and has so many jokes up his sleeve you will leave with a sore belly. This Can’t Be It is about Mark’s life and struggles as a father and role model, the lack of purpose in the month of August during the pandemic, and discovering an app that predicts when you die. The meaning of life and the length of one’s existence has never been put in this way before, but Mark has the answers.
Magical Bones: Soulful Magic
4:45 pm at Assembly – Checkpoint
And for the magic lovers, Magical Bones is a show of breakdancing, celebration of street culture and real magic. The act brings back childlike wonder, making us believe in the impossible again. It is a show full of life, jaw-dropping tricks and radiant charisma. When asked about this year’s show, Bones says, “Magic can really inspire, and a lot is about trust. I’ve always used magic to share my experiences of street culture & lifestyle and all the heroes that have inspired me – this show is no exception. I have poured my heart and soul into these new effects pushing myself to the realms of impossibility, and I believe this is my most ambitious project to date.” You can definitely tell how much work has gone into the making of the performance, and magic has been brought to life in Edinburgh this August.
So, here’s our wee round-up of noteworthy acts. Whichever you choose, you’re in for an evening of side-splitting comedy and pleasant surprises.