Best comedy shows at the Edinburgh Fringe 2023
What a stupid title. Every show at the Fringe is worth seeing. They’re all the best. But you can’t see them all. Here’s the list of shows I’ve either seen, or plan to see, or I’m suggesting to friends and family.
My show—which thankfully is objectively the best show at the festival, making my recommendation easier—is Ollie Horn: Not Much. It’s a stand-up show about all the bad gigs I’ve done as ten years as a stand-up comedian. It’s on every day at 6:25pm at the Mash House. Book tickets you’ll enjoy it.
12:30 | MC Hammersmith: Straight Outta Brompton
He’ll be overnight famous after winning some competition or having a clip go megaviral one day. He’ll do a legit good rap about your suggestions.
13:25 | Ahir Shah: Ends
This guy knows how to do hours. Expect big topics broken down in very sharp gags.
15:15 | Simon Munnery’s Jerusalem
He’s basically one of the best ever comedians. Lots of comedians like him, and people who don’t watch much comedy think he’s awful. Buy a ticket and work out why the comedians are right.
15:00 | Indonesia Presents (Far) East Meets West
Mo Sidik who’s closing the show has more comedy talent in his little finger than I’ll ever have.
15:35 | Josh Glanc: Collections 2023
He makes me laugh like a drain. Phenomenal comedy I wish I could do.
14:45 | Share
Trevor Locke’s shows are exercises in cult-generation in 60 minutes. He is the best at what he does, and his shows have to be experienced to be understood.
16:40 | Kathy Maniura: Objectified
Kathy is a smart and talented performer, and this will be a very fringy thing to do. Mad character comedy in a small and sweaty room before tea time.
16:00 | A Show for Gareth Richards
I reckon this will be one of the best compilation shows at the Festival this year—no doubt lots of drop-ins from the telly. Bring money because they’ll be collecting for a good cause.
17:00 | Tom Little: The Reliably Funny Comedian You Want To See
Tom’s comedy is off-beat observational comedy. A bit surreal, a bit meta, and he’ll wring every topic out more than other comics would.
17:30 | This Is Your Trial
Improvised comedy court room. Produced to a very high standard. Reliably funny even though it’s improv which is usually awful.
18:25 | Ollie Horn: Not Much
I think this is my best show yet. It’s three really funny stories and a bunch of personal stuff.
18:55 | Alexandra Haddow: Not My Finest Hour
She’s a great stand-up, and I’ve got no doubt that this’ll be a great show.
19:00 | Michelle Brasier: Reform
Michelle’s show was the best show I saw at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival—a phenomenal singer and storyteller.
19:30 | Ew Girl, You Nasty
Kathryn keeps threatening to quit comedy and once you see her show you’ll see how much of a shame that’d be.
19:30 | Nurse Georgie Carroll: Sista Flo 2.0
Georgie is just a great stand-up comedian. Pretty low-risk bet—it’s her first Edinburgh show but she’s been flying high in Australia for years.
20:25 | Foxdog Studios: Robo Bingo
Technology-driven chaotic fun.
20:30 | Amos Gill: The Pursuit of Happy(ish)
Technically impressive, assured, and stadium-ready stand-up. If he keeps this up he’ll be a household name.
20:30 | George Zacharopoulos: Wonderland
An incredible (true) story told by a comic who’s really found his voice lately.
21:00 | Joe White: Ethiopian and Still Not Hungry
Really, really, really tight stand-up.
21:00 | Paul Currie: Shtoom
I cried at the end of Paul’s show last year. It was just what I needed—perfect cl. This sort of thing is what the Fringe is about.
21:15 | Mat Ewins: Mr TikTok
Don’t bother reading the blurb just buy a ticket and laugh like a drain.
21:10 | Showstopper! The Improvised Musical
This is my most mainstream recommendation. It’s almost a guilty pleasure. It’s improv (usually awful), but honed to perfection. Dazzling talent.
21:40 | Jazz Emu: You Shouldn’t Have
One of the best shows I saw last year. Destined for great things.
22:00 | John Robertson’s The Dark Room
I go every year.
23:00 | Stamptown Comedy Night
These are the cool guys in the sixth form common room at the moment. One of their gang — the clown Vigo Venn — just won Britain’s Got Talent.
Three honourable mentions:
- All of the shows produced by my production company: click here to check them out!
- Any show at the Free Festival. An organisation I owe a lot to.
- TeamGreenJacket’s Fringe guide. An impressive Google Map with loads of options to enjoy the Fringe on a budget.
Don’t forget to leave gaps in your schedule to grab a flyer and take a chance on something you weren’t planning to see. That’s what the festival is all about!
Disclaimer: If you are a friend of mine who has scrolled through this list and are now fed up that your show isn’t on it then this is my way of letting you know once and for all that your show is not worthy of recommendation and I hate you.
