Well-Balanced Dads, Alba @ Hill St Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe 2026

By Ollie Wilson

This was a tremendous show combining sharp comedy, amusing audience participation and acrobatics.

Two American dads, missing their kids, go on a camping holiday together, picking up hitch-hikers, staging dance competitions in the woods - and learning more about themselves and their relationships with their children.

It was very funny and touching. Whisper Theatre are extremely skilled and talented - and undoubtedly deserve a far larger audience than they have been getting.

Well-Balanced Dads was the 34th show I have attended at this year's Fringe, and one of the most enjoyable. 

Star Rating: *****  

Patrick Monaghan: I'm Not A Terrorist - I'm Freddie Mercury, Gilded Balloon Patter House, Edinburgh Fringe 2026

By Ollie Wilson

Patrick Monaghan has a very engaging manner - exploring the audience and quickly locking them into his act. On this night, he encountered an interesting selection, ranging from a 12-year-old boy at the back to an old drama school mate at the front.

He fished for their schooldays nicknames, landing a small haul including 'Kitty', 'Gaylord' and 'Cougar'. His own schooldays, in Middlesbrough, after this family had fled Iran, were fascinating. He was nicknamed 'Terrorist' because 'Foreigner' was taken - assigned to boy from nearby Gateshead! 

Monaghan's storytelling is marvellous. He spins the yarn of growing up as an Iranian exile in a sometimes-hostile North-east England most skilfully. You can picture him as a child in a suitcase being smuggled out of Iran or taking part in his school Nativity play. He also has a good sense of generational differences, drawing out blasts from the past like 'the sliderule', 'chess' or 'paper' (!) from baby-boomers to confound the digitally addicted Gen Z. 

Most of all, there is joy in his act, a rich musicality and great fun. I was at the gig with my fellow cast members from another show, having had, admittedly, a few refreshments, and it felt like Patrick was weaving magic in front of our eyes. We all loved the show - and loved him, too! And the Freddie Mercury finale was brilliantly entertaining. 

Star Rating: *****

Gregor Fisher in Conversation with Nigel West, Gilded Balloon Teviot, Edinburgh Fringe 2026

By Ollie Wilson

This was a very interesting run-through of super-talented Gregor Fisher's illustrious career - to a very appreciative, predominantly Scottish audience - who thoroughly enjoyed the 'conversation' with Nigel West.

I have always been interested in his work, watching Rab C Nesbitt, although it was not entirely my cup of tea, and absolutely loving Para Handy. In fact, I recall I was the only UK national newspaper television critic to give The Tales of Para Handy TV series a rave review. 

It was fascinating to hear about the other things he has done and to get a sense of this great man (back in the day, my interview requests were always turned down!) He has a gentle wit and is wonderfully indiscreet. On his impending, top-secret role in TV drama Shetland, he said: 'I might be the thing [that's done it], I'm not allowed to say!' 

Now I am myself working primarily as an actor, I probably laughed louder at the his drama school tales than the rest of the audience, as he joked about being forced to learn Received Pronunciation and doing 'tree and vine work', getting a boner in his leotard. In fact, I picked up quite a lot on acting from what he said in this conversation, so thanks for that, Gregor. And the repertory theatre black-and-white pictures of a young Fisher in various servant roles were gorgeous. In one, he was pictured with his wife to be, a posh lass. 'My mother said to me, "Do you not think you are aiming a bit high?".' 

The section about his first series, Scotch and Rye, was fascinating. . . and I had forgotten about his brilliant Hamlet cigar adverts. Nigel West had done his homework and did a good job at keeping the show clicking along. 

The Al Pacino bit was also excellent and hilarious, and showed to me how humble Gregor Fisher is, a private, grounded Scotch bloke with a lot of skill, talent and dedication to the art of acting. I left the hall, feeling very glad I had just spent a wee bit of quality time in his company.

Star Rating: *****

Phil Nichol: The Naked Racist, Gilded Balloon Teviot, Edinburgh Fringe 2026

 By Ollie Wilson and Laura King

Stand-up great Phil Nichol reprised his 2006 Comedy Award-winning show The Naked Racist on its 20th Anniversary - to a capacity crowd and a tumultuous reception.

Following a bust-up with his then girlfriend, Nichol headed to Amsterdam alone to embark on a four-day drink and drugs binge - largely magic mushrooms - which turned bad and mad!

Inspired by the Doukhobors, who were peace-loving people from Russia who countered threats by getting naked and apologising regardless of who was in the wrong, his crazed adventure (hooking up with a crazed American ex-squaddie, fleeing a road traffic accident, arguing with an Armenian barman about war, experiencing a heavy metal band etc.), culminated in him dealing with a gang of skinheads, who believed he was gay at a LGBT Holocaust memorial, by removing his clothes, and chasing them. Only to find, in his drug-addled state, he was pursuing a couple of innocent black kids instead.

Nichol stripped entirely naked for half of the show as he delivered an anti-war message as apposite today as it was 20 years ago. He also persuaded his heavy metal band to do the same - and audience members to remove items clothing. How he does it, no one knows.

The Naked Racist is as much a masterpiece today as it was in 2006. It is insanely funny, daring and joyful. It is a wonderful, beautiful show about love and peace; a significant piece of work that will never be forgotten.

Star rating: *****

 

Aidan Greene: Stuttermilk Pancakes, Underbelly Bristo Square, Edinburgh Fringe 2026

By Ollie Wilson

This is a brilliant show from the king of stammering comedy, Aidan Greene - and I loved every second of it.

From Greene's childhood memories of a teacher who he believed actually had eyes in the back of her head (a theory he tried to test by orchestrating a daring ambush!) to his abortive appearance as Prince Charming in the school pantomime, it had his 16-strong audience in tears of laughter.

I loved his Joe Biden material, although, to be fair, having once allegedly had a stammer was the least of Joe's issues! And I thorough enjoyed his childhood list of likes and dislikes about himself, dutifully produced to satisfy his school speech therapist. Moreover, his 'Scatman' material was lovely.

It is the gifted Irishman's ninth show at the Edinburgh Fringe; all, it seems, related to his stammer, although he has branched out into a couple of other conditions (it seems stand-ups collect them like trophies these days!) 

And, of course, he is right to regard his stammer as a strength. I am a bit prone to stammering, particularly when I would really rather not (such as job interviews or trying to talk to celebrities!), while my wonderful elder brother has always had a far more severe stammer than me. Yet it did not stop him from graduating with a top Oxford University mathematics degree, doing a doctorate, having an accomplished City career and retiring comfortably early. Not once, in 65 years, has he complained about his stammer or even mentioned it!

In a similar vein to that, Greene' 'Daniel story' was moving, interesting and inspiring. As is Greene's own remarkable history and approach to a successful life. 

Stammer on, dude! This outstanding show is easily worth five stars!

Star Rating: *****

Star Rating: ****