These hilarious, heart-warming and wacky performances should all be on your radar
BY EMILY O’MULLANE, IMAGE BY JIKSAW
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is back this August, bringing thousands of new shows to Scotland’s capital. And, as always, LGBTQIA+ voices are at the heart of the festival. From sharp-witted stand-up and dazzling cabaret to heartfelt theatre and boundary-pushing performance, this year’s programme is full of talent. Here is our pick of the shows by queer women and non-binary performers that should be at the top of your Fringe list.
Rosie Jones: I Can’t Tell What She’s Saying
Dating, disability and gravy all come under the microscope in Rosie Jones’ latest stand-up hour. The Taskmaster star and BAFTA nominee returns with the warmth and infectious charm that has made her one of the biggest names at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
See the performance at the Cabaret Bar at Pleasance Courtyard from 5-30 August at 16:00.
Amy Matthews: Definitions Of Toast
Amy Matthews returns to Fringe with a show about navigating first queer relationships, self-perception and sobriety. Surrounded by a world full of outrage but unable to channel it herself, Matthews unpacks the emotion of anger through her dry wit and offbeat storytelling.
See the performance at O’Neill’s at Monkey Barrel Comedy from 5-30 August at 15:00.
Eva Peroni: Jungled
At just 21 years old, Eva Peroni is already generating a lot of buzz on the comedy circuit. After winning the Brass Tracks Debut Fund earlier this year, the Scottish comedian makes her Fringe debut with a set exploring class, Edinburgh culture and what it means to be queer in Latin America.
See the performance at Nook at Gilded Balloon Teviot from 5-30 August at 16:40.
Sydnee Washington: My Black Barbie Story
Sydnee Washington has lived many lives. Nights so embarrassing only Black Barbie can re-enact in a stop motion live show. Follow Sydnee’s life story from childhood, to making questionable decisions as a bottle girl in the iconic nightclubs of 2010s New York City – and how she eventually climbed her way out through sobriety and, funnily enough, stand up comedy.
Kate Hammer: Government Approved Comedian
Immigration paperwork might not sound like great comedy material, but Kate Hammer is determined to prove otherwise. Inspired by her experiences trying to build a life in a country that doesn’t always make it easy, the Canadian-born comic brings an exciting new voice to the Fringe.
See the performance at The Studio at Monkey Barrel Comedy from 3-30 August at 17:00.
Hannah Platt: Cult Classic
Following an acclaimed debut, Hannah Platt returns with a fascinating show about cults and the search for belonging. From her long-held belief that she would one day join a cult to finding connections within queer and neurodivergent spaces, Platt examines what draws us together as human beings.
See the performance at Attic at Pleasance Courtyard from 5-30 August at 19:15.
Temi Wilkey: Lover Girl
Queer comedy often centres on dating and relationships, but Lover Girl is here to prove that you can be happily single. In this new set by one of our DIVA favourites Temi Wilkey explores self-love and the joy of being the love of your own life.
See the performance at Upstairs at Pleasance Courtyard from 5-30 August at 14:40.
Dee Allum: Raumdeuter
What do football, mortality and being trans have in common? Dee Allum attempts to answer this question in the ambitious follow-up to her award-nominated debut Deadname. Inventive and thoughtful, Raumdeuter tackles identity with plenty of humour along the way.
See the performance at Upstairs at Pleasance Courtyard from 5-30 August at 16:10.
Annie Boyle: To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
Australian comedian Annie Boyle turns her own coming-out story into a hilarious and heartfelt Edinburgh debut. Inspired by the unforgettable experience of coming out to her grandmother on stage, Boyle uses this hour to reflect on sexuality and family.
See the performance at Clover at Underbelly, Bristo Square from 5-30 August at 17:25.
Bigfoot Ripped My Dog In Half I Saw It
Three-time Fringe First winners Xhloe and Natasha are premiering their latest project at this year’s festival. Told through their trademark absurdist physical theatre, they bring a tale to the stage about Bigfoot sightings in an already superstitious community. Weird? Essential? We think so.
See the performance at Main Hall at Summer Hall from 6-30 August at 21:10.
Spin Cycle
A meet-cute in a launderette begins this bittersweet Irish play about memory and queer love. Self-described as “Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind meets The L Word”, Spin Cycle combines romance and mystery to explore what happens when the past refuses to stay buried.
See the performance at Clover at Underbelly, Bristo Square from 5-31 August at 14:25
Jitters
Double act Britney (aka Ellen Robertson and Charly Clive) are best known for their sketch comedy, but Jitters marks an exciting step into theatre. Set in the hour before a wedding, the play explores commitment and uncertainty in the lead-up to a life-changing moment.
See the performance at Old Lab at Summerhall from 6-30 August at 12:00.
HAM
Few theatre-makers balance chaos and sincerity quite like Mary Higgins and Ell Potter. HAM is no exception. Shakespeare’s Hamlet gets a modern reimagining as a grieving vegan mourning the death of his pig, which results in a hilarious exploration of 21st-century morality and consumption.
See the performance at Old Lab at Summerhall from 6-30 August at 19:30.
Those People
For a late-night dose of queer cabaret, Those People is a must-watch. Queer to its very core, Laura Ciulli and Riana White bring together an hour of chaotic clowning that demonstrates the importance of friendship in the LGBTQIA+ community.
See the performance at Attic at Pleasance Courtyard from 5-30 August at 23:00.
Fuccbois: Live in Concert
Bad news: the world’s most famous boy band is breaking up. Good news: their final tour is taking place at the Edinburgh Fringe, and you can get tickets now! Bridie Connell has written a show that pokes fun at celebrity culture through an unforgettable musical drag performance. We wouldn’t miss it for the world.
See the performance at Studio Two at Assembly George Square Studios from 5-31 August at 17:05.
The Last Funny Woman
DIVA Queer Comedian of the Year nominee Kate Cheka presents a show that questions what it means to be a feminist when the world feels like it is collapsing. The Last Funny Woman promises to be an introspective look at intersectional identity, politics and survival. With Cheka at the helm, audiences can expect a perspective-shifting act that will stick with them long after the show has ended.
See the performance at carte blanche! at PBH’s Free Fringe from 8-30 August at 17:55.
Bi-Curious George: Snail Trail
Described by The Scotsman as “the embodiment of queer joy”, Bi-Curious George tackles big questions about gender by looking around us at the natural world. A true celebration of trans-masculinity, this drag-comedy act is a must-see for anyone who feels like they exist in a body that doesn’t conform to gender expectations.
See the performance at Below at Pleasance Courtyard from 5-31 August at 15:00.
Roger Prick: Sexopolis
Step into the 1970s with the surreal character of Roger Prick, a pornographer, erotic novelist and drag king who oozes exaggerated sex appeal. Created by Han Whyte, the character is a satirical take on hyper masculinity, using camp performance to expose the sexism that is embedded within the sex work industry. Bold and original, you will struggle to find anything quite like it!
See the performance at Jelly Belly at Underbelly, Cowgate, from 5-30 August at 18:55.
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