Edinburgh Fringe 2026 reviews round-up: Chelsea Birkby, Kiell Smith-Bynoe and friends, Rob Auton, Ed Night

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Edinburgh Fringe The Standard Andy Beill , Senior Editor in Edinburgh 2 minutes ago COMMENTS Top class improvised comedy, a veteran of the Fringe does what he does best once again, and a seriously underrated gag machine: reviews of shows performed 22-23 August, 2026.

Chelsea Birkby poses the theory: can she shake off the all smiles, nice girl image and push her very gentle teasing further? She attempts to bring out her Machiavellian side with a feistier alter ego, CheChe, though this quickly seems to revert to her entirely affable side. Very occasional stronger swearing and sexual references struggle to get the desired response, whereas her regular brand of gags consistently play well in the room, which maybe proves her point.

PowerPoint is in use throughout the show, which touches on subjects of self-help gurus, the eccentricities of her parents, and a found questionnaire her mother had once filled in to half-heartedly better herself. Not exactly new ground for a comedian, but I'd have perhaps liked to see her go deeper on these having introduced them. Similarly, some insights from her online platforms' analytics of what people – and especially men – are searching for when they arrive on a female comedian's page; Chelsea Birkby could excel at an experiment on this. You'd have confidence in her ability to bring out more humour in any of these subjects. It feels like we’ve only scratching the surface of what she’s capable of. ★★★☆☆

Kiell Smith-Bynoe poster at Edinburgh Fringe 2026 Andy Beill If you're nervous of improv, you'll be in safe hands here

For three nights only, this improv troupe, among them the now SNL UK star Emma Sidi, are in Edinburgh to fill out the 750-seater Grand room at the Pleasance.

There's no games or gimmicks you might have seen in other improv shows. Audience members are asked for their best stories – you get the show's title now – which are playfully re-enacted by the performers. A story involving a snake gave Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Stath Lets Flats, Taskmaster) the perfect opportunity to bring out a Samuel L Jackson impression on Saturday night. But every show promises to be completely different so who knows what you'll get, though at least have confidence that if you're nervous of improv, you'll be in safe hands here. ★★★★☆

See Kiell Smith-Bynoe's Kool Story Bro at Soho Theatre Walthamstow, October 10 & 11

Rob Auton poster at Edinburgh Fringe 2026 Andy Beill Rob Auton has a sense of wonder that could sit somewhere between Professor Brian Cox and Philomena Cunk

Rob Auton imagines visiting planet Jupiter to work as an estate agent, selling the merits of moving to Earth. For anyone unfamiliar with this veteran of the Fringe, it's less whimsical and more quietly profound than that conceit may sound. For anyone who is familiar with his work, this may be the archetypal Rob Auton show.