Edinburgh Festival Fringe Top picks: VARIETY
There are so many different types of entertainment on offer at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. We’ve already discussed musicals, plays and comedy, which are certainly some of the largest offerings. In this final set of top picks, we’ll be sharing some of the shows that have grabbed our interest that don’t necessarily neatly fit into any of those categories, including impressionists, magicians and improvisers (and even a pantomime dame!).
Teacher James B Partridge became an internet social media sensation playing and singing all the songs we loved singing in our primary school assemblies. Since then, Partridge has been touring the country with a live show, taking us right back to school with shows packed full of humour and nostalgia. For an afternoon sing-song with an outstanding performer, this is a must see!
Primary School Bangers (Photo credit: Coal Poet Media)
Award winning impressionist Jess Robinson returns to Edinburgh Festival Fringe with Elton Reimagined. Robinson will transform Elton’s classics into something surprising and spectacular by channelling a variety of legendary female artists, from Britney Spears to Judy Garland to Lily Allen and Raye. The show has been created in collaboration with director Matthew Floyd Jones, co-creator of Kathy and Stella Solve A Murder, so this show is bound to offer plenty of laughs and plenty of musical talent.
2 White Guys Rapping: Macshane and Delby
As seen on Britain’s Got Talent, Stian Macshane and Daniel Delby blend razor sharp improv with lightning fast rap. They will take crowd suggestions and turn them into hilarious challenges, games and spontaneous moments. Join in the fun, fuel the chaos and see this exciting show where no two performances will ever be the same.
You can also see them individually as they’ll both perform solo shows. Delby will present 33 Years Single, a mix of comedy, relatable storytelling and improv freestyle songs, whilst Macshane will perform RapGPT: Macshanein which he takes on a custom built AI entirely controlled by the audience and attempts to outwit the machine.
Another rap improviser at the Fringe this year is Chris Turner, runner up on America’s Got Talent. Fast, fearless and astonishingly funny, the show will blend live comedy with jaw-dropping freestyle rap from your suggestions - no script, no safety net, entirely in the moment.
Chris Turner was also the first comedian to ever have a Las Vegas residency with Cirque Du Soleil, so it definitely seems worthwhile checking him out whilst he’s on British soil.
Following sold-out shows around the world, award-winning magician Ben Hart (as seen on Britain’s Got Talent) returns to the Fringe with a brand new show that takes us on a dark, funny and astonishing journey into the hidden patterns that shape our lives. The Labyrinth blurs the line between coincidence and control, asking a simple question: are you really making your choices, or are they making you?
Hart is widely regarded in the industry as a leading voice in a new generation of theatrical magic, combining the precision of illusion with the hilarious, offbeat wit of a stand up. This is bound to be a very unique and impressive production!
Jess Robinson (Photo credit: Ed Moore)
Jamie Leonard: Blink of an Eye
After a successful run at 2025’s Fringe, rising star Jamie Leonard returns with Blink of an Eye. Blending comedic wit, astonishing sleight of hand and moments of quiet wonder, the show explores time, attention and things we miss when we’re not really looking. After receiving five star reviews last year, as well as a nomination for Best Show of the Fringe from MixUpTheatre.com, Leonard is surely one to watch.
The show is also part of PBH’s Free Fringe with no booking required, which makes it the perfect opportunity to give magic a go if you never have before.
Beloved pantomime dame and Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Mama G brings their award-winning panto adventure to the Fringe - perfect for the whole family.
Book Worm is livid the encyclopaedias give people so much knowledge so decides to steal all the books from Mama G’s library. Mama G vows to save the day by proving that books can help make the world a better place, but she can’t do it alone! Join Mama G and wonderful Magic Bookmark to discover why everyone deserves to be part of the story.
Tia Kofi Presents: The Final FronTia Live
Drag Race UK winner Tia Kofi is bringing her podcast to the Fringe. In this special live show, for two nights only, the worlds of Geeky-ness and drag will collide. Kofi will be joined by culture’s biggest stars to talk about the moments that made them and then answer your questions. You can also expect some live musical numbers so get your vocal cords ready!
Returning shows:
A handful of acclaimed musicals from previous years are returning to the Fringe this year. Some that we’d recommend seeing are…
The hit ogre-inspired burlesque and drag parody is back by popular demand! The show from Australian company Trigger Happy Productions is inspired by everyone’s favourite green swamp dweller (no, not Kermit, the other one!) and celebrates diversity in all its forms.
We gave the show four stars in 2024 - read our review.
This year, the show will also tour the UK with stops in London, Wolverhampton, Norwich, Hull, Paisley and Salford Quays.
Ben Hart (Photo credit: Matt Crockett)
The UK’s favourite improv show is back at the Fringe - the Olivier Award winning Showstopper! An obscenely talented troupe of performers will take to the stage to put on a brand new, world premiere musical based purely on your suggestions of musical styles, settings and title.
Read our four star review of Showstopper
For any Besties with little ones, you can also see Showstopper! The Kids Showon select dates throughout August.
Shamilton! The Improvised Hip-Hop Musical
Another sell out improvised musical production also returns to the Fringe. In this show, the talented players will improve a musical in the style of Hamilton based on a historical figure or celebrity of your choosing. Baby Wants Candy are certainly the USA’s answer to The Showstoppers and with freestyle lyrics that may (or may not…) rival Lin-Manuel this is a must see.
Read our four star review of Shamilton
Austentatious is constantly touring the UK which is surely a sign of its hugely popularity! In this show, a rotating cast (including Rachel Parris, Cariad Lloyd, Graham Dickson and more) improvise a hilarious new Jane Austen novel, inspired by a title from the audience.
Read our four star review of the show
And there you have it, Besties - PLENTY to choose from. Happy Fringe-ing!