Category: Brett Herriot at the Festivals

***** (5 stars)

“The Finest Concert Production!”

Big Band Does Productions have become a Fringe Festival staple over the last 5 year or so with there hit show Divas: From Stage to Screen, the concept is simple enough, take eight incredibly talented female performers from the world of musical theatre and pop, mix in a stellar live band and a selection of music that pays tribute to the world’s greatest Diva vocalists. From Dame Shirley Bassey to Judy Garland to Madonna and Whitney every great lady gets a look in, during this show which is the finest concert production you will see at the festival this year.

Each show features four Divas drawn from Danielle, Jorgey, Sarah, Nicola, Jessica, Flick, and Rosie In a show that’s the perfect late-night music review very much in the vein of the legendary supper clubs of New York. Featuring a plethora of songs and the odd mash up, it’s a crowd-pleasing program that’s anchored by a polished four piece on stage band who work from some inspired musical arrangements.

There is not a weak performer amongst the Divas who deliver peerless vocals and performances that cannot be matched anywhere else in the festival Simply staged and beautifully directed this is the perfect way to round out a day at the Fringe.

For the last couple of Festivals, the Divas have been more tucked away in the basement of St Augustine’s on George IV Bridge. 2026 Fringe sees the Diva’s, revived, refreshed with added glitter and sparkle including a fabulous lighting and sound design that lifts the show to whole new level taking to the stage of the Ballroom in the Heart of the New Town and its clear these ladies mean business.

Endlessly engaging, musically stunning, this is truly the best concert show to be seen this year, so pop along to the assembly rooms and grab a glass of wine or indeed the tipple of your choice and be prepared get lost in some incredibly performed music!

Divas: From Stage to Screen, The Fringe, Ballroom @ Assembly Rooms runs until 30^th August for more information go to: DIVAS: From Stage To Screen | Edinburgh Festival Fringe

**** (4 stars)

“An Awesome Production”

The 1975 musical classic, A Chorus Line conceived by the late Michael Bennett with music by Marvin Hamlisch is rarely revived in the professional theatre let alone attempted at the Fringe and its a brave choice for Edinburgh Little Theatre to choose but they deliver an awesome production filled with power and heart-rending performances as well as some of the most fabulous choreography you will see on the fringe this festival.

A Chorus Line, latterly adapted for the cinema in 1985 and directed by Richard Attenborough lifts the lid on life for Broadway performers especially dancers as the try to attain there dreams of appearing in the Chorus life of a brand new Broadway show having been whittled down from 100’s who have audition the final 16 stand before us and the shows director “Zach”, Mackenzie Harley as he seeks to the find the final 8 dancers who will make up his Chorus Line.

What follows is not only an exploration of dance talent but also the lives of each dancer as we discover both their passion for dance but also the very real emotional costs of their choices to pursue their dreams. It’s essentially a sequence of vignettes and the shows Director Zoe McRae clearly has a passion for the script and understands its heart well and that comes over in tremendous style from the stage.

All the performances are excellent especially when delivering CJ Miller’s inspired Choreography which harnesses everything we have come to expect from Chorus Line but also opens it up to a new generation and his decision to stage some of the dance on the audience floor gives a fabulous opportunity to see his work up close.

Performances are uniformly excellent but special mention must go to Louis McNorton as “Paul” his monologue breaks the heart with its beauty and truth and brings the tear to the eye as his story is one that we who identify as gay completely understand, it’s a uniquely beautiful moment in the show.

Production wise alas it’s a little clunky especially on sound and lighting that could be a little sharper but hopefully that will tighten up as the run beds in. There is no live band but musical director Libby Short has brought out the best in the vocals.

Running at just shy of 2 hours and 30 minutes this Chorus line delivers real bang for your buck so don’t kiss today goodbye head along for a fabulous musical treat!

A Chorus Line, The Fringe, Grand Hall at Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge, Venue 7, Runs Until 31st August for more information go to: A Chorus Line | Edinburgh Festival Fringe

***** (5 stars)

“A Sparkling Diamond!”

Becoming somewhat of a rarity amongst the festival is late night slots hosting quality drama instead of the plethora of Stand-up comedians. There are thankfully still a few companies willing to brave the city’s venues long after the sun has gone down and Cried Wolf Productions debut at the Fringe is one of the Sparkling Diamonds that shine brightly in the moonlight of city soaked in culturing offerings for the month of August.

Sissy Boy is a one man tour de force performance from Jack Bickford who writes what feels like an autobiographical coming of age story of a Bristol Boy who expresses his sexual desires as a humiliation kink driven teenager who is infatuated by his online Domme Mistress,  Sex and all its proclivities are so often Taboo and never spoken about in a honest and public way, this stellar play addresses that in admittedly very adult way but also one that questions the audiences’ own desires and insecurities.

Jack’s performance is raw, vital and filled with vitriol but equally emotional, truthful and endlessly engaging. I went it expecting this play to be taken from a viewpoint of gay man but refreshingly it leans into a heterosexual that is questioning sexuality and gender and discovering who and what he is.

There is great deal of bravery in the piece too with the Bristol boy talking openly of his fetish for women’s Knickers, stockings and heels, his desire to be controlled and the connections and so often disconnections to those he loves in his life. The ending where he questions the cost of the journey his life has taken thus far is sobering and deeply moving in equal measures.

Sissy Boy is a very special play that resonates long after leaving the theatre. With a short run that comes to a close on August 15^th this is a must see despite its late night slot.

Sissy Boy, The Fringe, Haldane Theatre, theSpace @ Surgeons Hall Runs Until 15^th August for more information go to: Sissy Boy | Edinburgh Festival Fringe

**** (4 stars)

“Intriguing and capturing”

Critically acclaimed No Tits Theatre company bring an intriguing and capturing body swap romcom to the 2026 festival. A night out in Gay club sees Kevin, a CIS man and Simon a trans meet hook up in a steamy encounter when Kevin realizes Simon’s trans status things take a transphobic path until a flash of lightening see’s Kevin and Simon swap bodies.

What follows is exploration of both men facing their fears, insecurities and prejudice in a world that is growing ever darker for our trans siblings. They are forced to work together to reverse the swap and along the way perhaps they can both learn something important about themselves and each other.

Boobytrapped is beautifully written two hander that embraces its themes with true passion and understanding of the various arguments that it explores blending some wonderfully judged comedy along with a stark reality of daily life for many in the transgender community.

Both performers turn in wonderfully emotive performances that are finely nuanced but also very real and they make the most of the intimate space. There are additional characters that are pre-recorded but the inclusion of the next-door neighbour as a live in the room voice over does jar a little but doesn’t detract from the overall quality of this sparkling piece of new LGBT+ writing.

Boobytrapped is at the very heart of the Fringe and what it stands for, theatre without constraints or boundaries and makes a very sobering remainder that no matter how far the journey has come for transgender equality there is still so much more to do. Adult, Truthful and a great addition to anyone’s Fringe Diary.

Boobytrapped, The Fringe, Space 2 at theSpace on the Mile Venue 39, Runs Until 29^th  August for more information go to: boobytrapped | Edinburgh Festival Fringe

***** (5 stars)

“Stunningly Beautiful”

Edinburgh based Captivate Theatre have now become stalwarts of the Edinburgh Fringe over the last decade and 2026 sees the company reveal a new mature side to their program of shows as they bring the debut production of the critically acclaimed smash hit musical “Dear Evan Hansen” to Fringe in a production that’s both stunningly beautiful and powerfully performed by the best ensemble cast that are west end stars one and all.

Dear Evan Hansen, with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and book by Steven Levenson is a generational redefining show that tells the Story of Evan Hanson a high school senior with social anxiety who invents a role for himself in a tragedy that has shaken his town to the core. It’s an emotional and painful tale of those left behind following a suicide as well how easy it is for the smallest of lies to snowball into a situation that can take anyone of us to the edge.

Captivate Artistic Director Sally Lyall has put together the most extraordinarily talented ensemble casts on this year’s Fringe with all the main characters alternating the lead roles across the run and there is not a weak link between them, this is most flawless set of performances you will see at the festival. Special mention must go to Alex Fraser as “Evan” who delivers a performance that comes from the heart, he imbues Evan with heart wrenching vulnerability that’s totally capturing to watch. The same is true of Hazel Beattie as Evan’s mother Heidi with powerhouse vocals and an utterly breath-taking acting ability that sees her every emotion soar around the ballroom this is a actor of pure west end caliber.

Lyall has brought a production that’s truly stripped back with the professional productions virtual elements removed and replaced by inventive use of a simple set and polished choreography from Danielle Logan who clever weaves American sign language throughout the show. The Cherry on this spectacular is musical director Emily Paterson’s eight strong pit band.

Emotional, powerful and beautifully performed this is the sleeper hit of the 2026 Fringe Festival and a real tribute to the power of musical theatre to not only entertain but educate Captivate Theatre have harnessed the truth heart of this musical a deliver a show which will linger long in the memory of all who see it! This is one show which will sell out and deservedly so.

Dear Evan Hansen, Assembly Rooms, Ball Room Venue 20, Runs until 16^th August for more information and tickets go to: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/dear-evan-hansen