Every August, the Scottish capital comes alive with street performers, outside bars and of course plenty of theatre during Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
We’ve picked out our top five favourite shows this year; a mixture of drama, comedy and even musical tarot to surprise and entertain. These are the shows to catch across the final week of Edinburgh Fringe.
Thor The Walrus
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We were immediately drawn in by the name of this show, and we stayed for the concept. Thor the Walrus is a satirical comedy about climate change, exploring global warming through the medium of a walrus. It sounds absurd – and it is. It’s an hour of non-stop laughs, as a climate news team reports on Thor’s progress in the style of the iconic Brass Eye. And apparently, it’s even based on a true story. This is for anyone who likes a fun comedy – and isn’t that what the Fringe is all about?
Happy Medium
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We’ve found the lunch time show stopper. Who would have thought to combine tarot and musical comedy? Kayla Subica, of course. Step into 1970s New York City and get your tarot card reading sung to you by an aspirational singer-turned-medium before she becomes famous (and yes, she does have a fabulous voice). Kayla leaves no card unflipped in this delicious dark comedy. Audience participation is encouraged but not required – you can just sit back and laugh. Happy Medium also offers private sessions, where you can receive an uplifting tarot, reiki and soul coaching.
Oh, Calm Down
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More on the serious side, this show is a brilliant piece of new writing by Charlotte Anne Tilley. Set in 1999 and the present day, Oh, Calm Down delves into the intergenerational impact of mental health issues and the possibility of misdiagnosis. Exploring both family relationships and OCD, you might cry, but you’ll also smile. If you’re intrigued by Charlotte Anne Tilley’s clever play, you can buy it to read here.
The Sound Of The Space Between
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For fans of experimental music and poetry, this is both a calming and thought-provoking hour. Describing itself as ‘a sonic adventure into the unknown,’ the piece explores grief and loss in a new and unexpected way, taking the audience on a journey through literal darkness to light. We particularly loved the lighting design of this piece – but to tell you why would be a spoiler.
Sophie Duker: But Daddy I Love Her
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A tag line of “the sexiest comic alive” says a lot about the freeing and fun attitude of Sophie Duker’s But Daddy I Love Her. The play explores the modern realm of sugar daddies with an added silliness and naughtiness. This one-woman show encourages fantasies, and choosing joy in our day-to-day life over realism. Or, in Sophie Duker’s own words “delulu is the solulu”.
Apricity
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The circus meets the drama of a storied play with Apricity by Casus Creations. Gender roles of traditional masculinity and femininity are dissolved amongst the aerial acrobatic work by the performers, who gracefully flit between apparatuses on stage to the relaxed soundtrack. Taking its title from the Latin word for the warmth of sun in the winter, Apricity is nothing short of a refreshing and heart-warming performance of elegant, human art.
Lead image: Apricity
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