Thursday August 20th 2026
An Edinburgh Fringe performer entertains crowds in the city during this year’s festival (photo by Joe Gilhooley LRPS)
Written by Midlothian View reviewer, Angela Muir
With hundreds of shows taking over Edinburgh during this year’s Fringe, knowing what to see can be a challenge. Angela Muir has been checking out some of the festival’s latest offerings and has picked out four shows that stand out from the crowd – from laugh-out-loud improv and musical comedy to feel-good family entertainment.
Murder She Didn’t Write
If you’re looking for a Fringe show guaranteed to lift your mood, Murder She Didn’t Write should be at the top of your list! Back at the Edinburgh Fringe for it’s 12th year, improv legends @degreesoferror deliver an absolute romp of a show, and the best bit? The cast have absolutely no idea how it’s going to end either.
Each performance is a completely improvised Murder mystery with the audience choosing the setting and the murder weapon which for us resulted in a wonderfully bonkers Master Chef final complete with an exploding clay pipe.
What follows is an impressively quick witted hour of chaos, clever improvisation and gloriously silly comedy. The cast are clearly having as much fun as the audience, bouncing off each other brilliantly and somehow managing to turn our ridiculous suggestions into a coherent murder mystery.
Holding the whole thing together is the rather fabulous Agatha Crusty whose theatrical presence keeps the investigation moving while the cast attempt to work out exactly what on earth is going on.
There’s something particularly joyful about watching a show where absolutely nothing is scripted and knowing that every performance will be completely different. You genuinely have no idea what you’re going to get, which makes being part of the audience all the more fun.
Funny, fast paced, gloriously silly and very clever, Murder She Didn’t Write is exactly the sort of mood lifting Fringe show I’d happily recommend.
Gordon Aikman Theatre at Assembly George Square. 2.15pm 5-31st August.
Doomscroll Till I Die
If you’re looking for a fun way to start your Fringe day, @doomscrolltillidie is definitely worth a look!
A talented young cast take a hilarious look at something I think most of us are all guilty of, getting sucked into our phones and losing hours to the endless scroll. Fast, funny and very relatable, with plenty of energy from the cast. And as a morning show, it’s a great way to kick off a day at the Fringe. Considering they were a cast member down, they still managed to pull off a fantastic show.
A reminder that maybe we should all put our phones down.. maybe!
Pleasance Courtyard, Baby Grand. 11.30 am until 31st August 2026.
One Man Musical
If you’re a fan of musical theatre, comedy or just a really good time, put this one on your Fringe list!
Flo & Joan’s @one.man.musical turns the spotlight on one very famous musical theatre icon as he tells the story of his life, his career and, quite frankly, himself. Opening with “It’s all about me” I pretty much knew immediately that I was going to love this show.
Brilliantly played by Edward Easton, this isn’t an impersonation of ALW, it’s a funny, over the top telling of his story, and it’s hilarious from beginning to end. It features classic musical theatre tunes, clever lyrics all brilliantly written and performed by the seriously talented Flo & Joan who are on stage throughout on drums and keyboard.
I loved every minute of this show and so far, it’s my pick of the Fringe. Highly, highly recommend.
Beyond at Pleasance Courtyard. 16.50pm daily until 30th August
Bliss
This is the tale of 4 princesses with 4 very different talents and one seriously overprotective King for a father! Hidden away in their castle since their mother’s death, the sisters have been kept safe from the outside world..until the chance to escape finally arrives. But freedom isn’t quite what the girls expect.
What follows is a fun, funny and very sparkly musical about finding your own voice, being true to yourself and questioning what “perfect” really means.
The music is fantastic with big showstopping numbers, pop rock tunes and seriously impressive dance routines. There were definitely moments that reminded me of SIX, with it’s girl power, fabulous energy and strong female characters.
The cast are brilliant and I particularly enjoyed the performances by the very mischievous fairy godfather, Glimmermore and the oh so conceited Prince Devin and of course the 4 princesses.
It’s a feel good, empowering musical that proves that you don’t need a Prince, a fairy godfather or anyone else who decides what your happily ever after looks like.
A great one for all the family!
Grand at Pleasance Courtyard, 1pm daily until 31st August 2026.
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