More names have been announced as part of Pleasance Theatre Trust’s Edinburgh Fringe Programme. Featuring 139 new additions across comedy and theatre, including household comedy names, internationally acclaimed theatre companies and children’s show, here are some comedy highlights from the programme.
From Bob’s Burgers, BoJack Horseman and Flight of the Conchords, Kristen Schaal (pictured) takes her brand-new comedy The Legend of Crystal Shell. Favourite of Taskmaster and 8 Out of 10 Cats, Joe Lycett hosts an hour of laughter with some of the most exciting talent, while Ruby Wax shares scandalous, neverbefore-heard stories in Absolutely Famous.
Returning after winning the 2023 Edinburgh Comedy Award, Ahir Shah tackles love, money, family and frogs in Golden. Saturday Night Live UK’s Larry Dean arrives with Hellbent, a riotous refusal to growing up. Mock of the Week’s Rhys James brings his trademark gag-dense overthinking in Chop Logic, while Mark Watson returns for three final performances of Before It Overtakes Us.
Sam Nicoresti is also back following their 2025 Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Show win with Baby Doomer. Best known as viral icon Charity Shop Sue, Selina Mosinski delivers a part confession, part surreal character comedy, revisiting her past as an 18-year-old stripper from Derby. BAFTAnominated and double Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Spencer Jones asks whether dogs are better than humans in DOGS, as fellow Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Li Jin Hao reflects on the past in Falling From a Moon.
Acclaimed clown Frankie Thompson dissects the unbearable in Horrible Things and QI and Comedy Central Live star Kemah Bob questions whether we ever truly grow up in Love Child. Star of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, Kate Butch, unpacks the shadiest moments of her life in her new stand-up show, while Rosie Holt returns with her MP alter-ego, fighting their biggest foes in a sci-fi streaked satire. Pleasance also welcomes back standout debuts from last summer.
Elouise Eftos continues her sexy, silly, feminist trilogy with Aphrodite, joined by Hasan Al-Habib for his latest stand-up hour, Stuck in the Middle (East) with You and Amelia Hamilton with Moral Support. Also returning are Sharon Wanjohi with A Perfect Life, a chaotic, high-energy hour about fear and control, and Rory Marshall with his most pathetic character (himself) this summer, along with gossip storyteller Sophie Garrad.
Bringing the best of sketch are Crybabies, with their dark tale from the producers of Fleabag and Baby Reindeer. Ferociously funny Charly Clive (Rooster, HBO) and Ellen Robertson (Vladimir, Netflix) are back as double act Britney (pictured), alongside comedy group Metroland with their unpretentious sketch hour. Following four consecutive sold-out Fringes, identical twins Hugo and Patrick McPherson take their fresh chaos to Pleasance as Pear.
A host of fresh comedic voices step up for their Fringe debut. Freddie Meredith (Big Boys, Channel 4 & The Crown, Netflix) unpacks masculinity, fame and algorithms in Need A Light?, Last One Laughing’s Emma Doran tackles the trials and tribulations of a blended family in Emmaculate and Abby Govindan is breaking generational curses in Pushing 30. Expect song, dancing and lessons from Channel 4 Sean Lock Comedy Award 2025 winner Tom Towelling, and online obsession from performance artist Harriet Richardson.
Also debuting are Mario Adrion as he dives headfirst into the modelling world in Live A Little, Anna Leong Brophy, from sketch duo EGG, with a joyful take on the male gaze and sci-fi, and BAFTA-longlisted comedian Em Humble bringing a magical tale of wizards, goblins, and urchins. Further newcomers include BBC Radio 4’s Time of the Week creator Jonathan Oldfield, exploring both definitions of ‘corpse’ in Exquisite Corpse.
Saturday Night Live UK writer Omar Badawy brings a collection of stupid little tales on avoidance, while Emmeline Downie (It Gets Worse, Channel 4) introduces her unpredictable character Gail and Davina Bentley rages against the dying light of middle age. Clowning debuts include Maya Ricote, a cryogenically preserved passionate Mexican telenovela actress-turn-clown and duo Lady Bolognese, serving up a scrumptious blend of greasy friendships and anarchic delight. Pleasance Comedy Reserve alumni return as Marty Gleeson pulls audiences headfirst into her debut hour Dog Ear, while Ele McKenzie heads back to her parents’ house in Bringing It All Back Home.
Tickets for all shows are available at www.pleasance.co.uk and 020 7609 1800 (editor's note: does anyone book by phone?)
