Top Shows at Edinburgh Fringe 2025
I have pulled together a list of very good shows– and others that should be good.
Hello reader!
The Edinburgh Fringe remains one of the bedrocks of the British theatre — a sprawling, vibrant showcase where comedy giants, serious players, and first-timers collide.
Running from August 1st to 24th, this year’s festival features over 3,500 shows, with appearances from beloved performers like Miriam Margolyes, Jenny Eclair, and Bill Bailey.
There are 325 free shows and 529 pay-what-you-can performances, reflecting the Fringe’s enduring democratic spirit — even as costs spiral.
And spiral they have. Venue rates are up, sponsorships are scarce, and more artists are questioning whether a full-run stint in Edinburgh is viable. Some say the Fringe is in peril. The truth? It’s been in peril before — and probably will be again.
Indeed, many of the problems are those that beset British theatre more generally all year round.
But when your head’s spinning, your feet are aching, and you’ve clocked 20,000 steps, there’s no better place to feel the pulse of live performance than in Scotland’s capital.
Even with Oasis (yes, really) and AC/DC gigs pulling in an additional 290,000 music fans later in August, the Fringe feels like it could go pop. Bonkers.
Anyway. I skipped it all last year — but this year? No one knows just what the future holds.
Carl W x
Kieran Hodgson: Voice of America
📍 Pleasance Courtyard
A master of the concept-comedy show, Hodgson returns with a Stateside theme. His previous works explored Lance Armstrong, Brexit, and Gaelic lessons — so expect insight, commitment, and gags.
I love his consistently funny brain.
Monstering the Rocketman
📍 Pleasance Dome
Elton John versus the tabloids. Henry Naylor’s gripping play dives into the infamous libel case that ended with a £1 million payout. Lol.
A Teen Odyssey
📍 Summerhall
An innovative, interactive piece for the TikTok generation. La Mecànica, using La Fura dels Baus’s Kalliópê app, explores identity and connection through smartphone-powered storytelling.
Tom at the Farm
📍 Pleasance at EICC
Michel Marc Bouchard’s play, reimagined in rural Brazil by Armando Babaioff, gains sharp relevance in a country where LGBTQ+ violence remains high.
The Butterfly Who Flew Into the Rave
📍 Summerhall
Queer, euphoric, physical, and pulsing with techno beats. A celebration of dancefloor resilience and the transformative power of community.
Hot Mess
📍 Pleasance Courtyard
From the team behind 42 Balloons, this eco-themed musical reimagines the climate crisis as a grand, messy breakup. Love, loss, and looming catastrophe — all set to music.
Miles
📍 Summerhall
Trumpeter Jay Phelps joins a jazz-drama hybrid, bringing Kind of Blue to life. Benjamin Akintuyosi stars as Miles Davis in this evocative story of genius and legacy.
Celya AB: work in progress
📍 Monkey Barrel
Chortle Award winner, BBC New Comedy Award finalist — Celya AB is fast becoming a name to watch. Wry, stylish, and quietly subversive.
Make It Happen
📍 Festival Theatre (EIF)
Wallflower playwright James Graham tackles the collapse of the Royal Bank of Scotland in a high-stakes world premiere. A gripping chronicle of hubris, finance, and fallout. There are £10 on the day tickets, too.
How to Win Against History
📍 Underbelly, George Square
Seiriol Davies’s gloriously camp musical returns with a fresh lick of paint. Henry Paget, the fifth Marquess of Anglesey, dances back into the spotlight in this hilariously anachronistic, Monty Python-meets-G&S romp.
Ordinary Decent Criminal
📍 Summerhall
Mark Thomas reunites with England and Son playwright Ed Edwards for a raw new story about addiction, incarceration, and experimental reform in the post-Strangeways era.
Motorhome Marilyn
📍 Gilded Balloon
Michelle Collins makes her Fringe debut in this dark comedy inspired by a real-life encounter. Written by talented Ben Weatherill, it's a sharp look at failure, fame, and faded dreams.
Happy Ending Street
📍 Leith Arches
Jenna Stone’s intimate, powerful drama centres on three sex workers in Edinburgh, each longing for escape. Gritty and heartfelt — a show with something to say
If you have tips, tweet me: @mrcarl_woodward or leave a comment below *thumbs up emoji*.