Mobius Press Team Give Their Edinburgh Festival Fringe Recommendations

It’s the mid way point of this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Mobius Press team on the ground in the Scottish capital share their favourite non Mobius shows (we couldn’t pick between the ones we’re PRing because it would be like picking a favourite child) from the festival so far…

If you missed our previous blog from PR Senior Account Manager Elaine as the team were heading up to Edinburgh, you can find that here. 

Elaine (Senior Account Manager)

Ignacio Lopez: Señor Self-Destruct, Hoots at the Apex at 18.00

• I am Welsh so I am always keen to see any Welsh acts here and Ignacio is a big favourite of mine. I’ve seen a lot of his stand up over the past few years and I’ve loved watching him breaking through into the mainstream with appearances on Live at the Apollo and Have I Got News For You. Aside from being very funny, he does a lot of topical material about immigration (he was born in Spain to a Welsh mother and German Moroccan father and moved to Wales when he was a child) and being Welsh. In this work in progress show, he opens up about the mental health challenges he has faced since he was young. The show is due to tour next year and I very much recommend you go and see it!

Heartbreak Hotel, Summerhall at 16.10 from EBKM as part of a New Zealand showcase from Creative New Zealand

• I think shows about breakups are difficult things to do well. They either need to have a new spin on them or be really well written and thankfully, this show is both. Karin McCracken plays a woman navigating heartbreak and Simon Leary various men in her life from her ex to her doctor. There’s a bit of direct address to the audience, some music, lots of laughter and some sadder moments. Karin had a real charm and rapport with the audience and I thought Simon playing a range of characters reflected how you can feel like your exes are everywhere you go and a break-up can hang over you for a long time.

Maryann (PR Consultant)

Weather Girl, Cairns Lecture Theatre @Summerhall, 6pm

• Producer Francesca Moody has proven to have one of the keenest eyes for new writing at Edinburgh Fringe (with successes like Fleabag and Baby Reindeer) and Weather Girl is no exception. The script, performance, and staging of this play is slick and impactful. It had the entire audience holding their breath, laughing, crying and best of all: thinking. The show tackles a world literally burning from the climate emergency with a humour and surrealism that is so very clever and urgent.

Pop Off Michelangelo!, Big Yin @ Gilded Balloon Patter House, 6:30pm

• What a fun, camp musical that is simply a barrel of laughs! This show is produced by Blair Russell Productions and written by Dylan MarcAurele, with solid book, music and lyrics, and a devilishly funny cast. It spins off of real-life rival artists Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, and asks: what if they were gay besties - turned bitter rivals - who try to gain divine forgiveness (for being gay) by becoming the best religious artists of all time? A fun night out, especially for the queers and queens.

Annabelle (Senior Account Executive)

My Mother’s Funeral: The Show, Roundabout @ Summerhall, 2.40pm

• I knew I wanted to see this show from Paines Plough as soon as I bumped into actor Debra Baker in Pleasance Courtyard during the first day of fringe. I worked on the show Debra was in last Christmas, Alison Spittle’s Glacier at The Old Fire Station, and absolutely loved her performance, so I was eager to see her take to the stage once more. Needless to say, her and her castmates' performances were fantastic. The poignant themes were expertly balanced with wit, humour and a lot of heart, I especially enjoyed the metatheatrical motifs.

Classic Penguins, Pleasance Forth at 8.30pm

• I was lucky enough to catch Garry Starr’s Greece Lightning on my last night of fringe in 2023 and I’ve thought about it ever since, so Classic Penguins was the first show I booked in for, weeks before I even touched down in Edinburgh. In Starr’s signature style of blending absolute stupidity with clowning brilliance, the audience really does hang on his every word and is committed to do pretty much anything for the bit - I know I was! I have been shouting out this show to EVERYONE. I think what’s really incredible is how safe he makes the audience feel, even when he’s wearing absolutely nothing but a ruff, flippers and a tuxedo jacket. Haven’t laughed like that in ages.

Leila (Press Assistant)

How I Learned to Swim, Roundabout @ Summerhall, 4.10pm

• My favourite shows are the ones that manage to balance the comic with the tragic. How I Learned to Swim from Prentice Productions is a masterclass in skilled writing that does just this. Jamie, a 30 year old woman who has never had swimming lessons and decides now is the time to start learning, takes us on a joyous journey of the trials and tribulations that come with attempting a new skill in adulthood. Dealing with themes of loss, grief and identity along the way, this one woman show is underscored by what it’s like to grow up as a black in a white world. As we find out the real reason for Jamie’s fierce determination to learn to swim, carefree laughter is swapped out for quiet heartbreak. The audience was so invested in the climax of this play you could’ve heard a pin drop in the room. Captivating in the best kind of way!

Jo Griffin: Last Chance Saloon, Assembly George Square, 9.15pm

• Seeing Jo Griffin perform stand-up has become a bit of an Edinburgh tradition for me now and I’m not complaining. She’s hilarious, obviously, plus she’s a brilliant storyteller: relatable, endearing, warm. AND she has a great fringe. Some people just have it all. My favourite parts of the show are always the audience interactions. Notable this time round was the trio Gen Z girls sat in the front row who she effortlessly incorporated into her routine, drawing even more laughter from us. You could just tell the room was buzzing and feeding off her energy. And of course the show ended with a little surprise performance that included a council-issued food waste bin and an old-school digital camera… you had to be there. Never disappoints.

Ruby (Press Assistant)

Tartan Tat, The Space @Niddry Street, 2:10pm

• Tartan Tat is a brilliant new comedy piece from Shark Bait Theatre brought to life by a talented local Edinburgh theatre group. Set against the bustling backdrop of a tourist trap shop on the Royal Mile, this show dives into the often-overlooked conversations surrounding Edinburgh during the Fringe Festival, all while maintaining a sharp and witty comedic edge. The characters are exceptionally well-crafted, each with a unique charm and a relatability that resonates deeply with the audience. It has a very universal appeal, offering tourists an insight into what life is like for Edinburgh locals during the Fringe and providing a treasure trove of local references and witty nods that are deeply ingrained in the Scottish cultural fabric.

Trainspotting Live, Pleasance @EICC, 6:30pm

• Trainspotting Live is a powerful adaptation of Irvine Welsh's iconic novel, transporting you into the late 1980s. The show was originally produced by In Yer Face Theatre and King’s Head Theatre and is now a collaboration with Seabright Live, The performance begins on a lighter, more comedic note, gently introducing the audience to the grim realities of the characters' lives. This humour is skillfully woven into the narrative, including a darkly amusing take on the infamous toilet scene (if you know, you know). As the story progresses, the show delves into much darker and more serious territory, tackling the harrowing issues of drug addiction. The acting is exceptional throughout, with the cast delivering compelling performances that stay with you long after the show ends. The show is a must-see—though best appreciated if you're already familiar with the film or the book.

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