The Edinburgh Fringe is in full swing and the comedy scene is delivering some genuinely brilliant performances this year. From punk rock clowning to sharp political stand-up, here is a rundown of the shows that are worth queuing for.
The undisputed highlight of this latest batch is Otto and Astrid: The Stages Tour, which earns a well-deserved four stars. The fictional sibling punk-rock duo have accidentally become TikTok darlings, and it is not hard to see why once you are in the room with them. What they have put together is a genuinely hard-to-categorise show that mashes up a live gig, a clown performance and a stand-up set into something that feels completely its own thing. It is chaotic, funny and surprisingly moving in places. If you only catch one show from this list, make it this one.
Ahir Shah returns to the Fringe with Golden, a show that cements his reputation as one of the smartest comics working in Britain right now. Shah has always been good at weaving personal storytelling with bigger political and philosophical ideas, and Golden is no different. He takes the audience through some genuinely heavy territory without ever losing the laughs, which is a difficult balance to pull off. Fans of his previous work will not be disappointed.
Dom McGovern brings Prize Hog to the Fringe and it is a solid, entertaining hour from a comic who clearly knows how to work a room. McGovern has a confident stage presence and a good instinct for when to push a joke further and when to pull back. The material is sharp enough to keep you engaged throughout, and there are a handful of moments that land really well.
Tom Little in his Comfort Zone does exactly what the title suggests, and that is both its strength and its slight weakness. Little is a likeable performer and the show is warm and funny, but there is a sense that he is playing it safe when he could afford to take more risks. Still worth seeing, particularly if you enjoy character-driven comedy with a gentle touch.
BIRDS, the two-hander from Alex Hines and Sarah Stafford, is one of the more interesting shows on the Fringe circuit this year. The pair have a strong chemistry and the writing is inventive, with the show taking some unexpected turns that keep the audience on their toes. It is the kind of show that the Fringe does best, giving performers the space to try something genuinely different.
Viggo Venn rounds out this selection with Only One. Venn became a familiar face after his appearances on Britains Got Talent and he brings the same physical, joyful energy to this show. It is big, loud and very funny in places, though the hour can feel slightly uneven. When Venn is on form, however, he is an absolute joy to watch and the crowd clearly loves him.
The Fringe runs until the end of August and with hundreds of comedy shows on offer across the city, the standard this year feels particularly high. Whether you are after something cerebral, something chaotic or just something that will make you laugh until your sides hurt, there is genuinely something for everyone across the venues of Edinburgh right now.