Another Edinburgh Fringe has come to a close, and what a month it’s been for Gag Reflex.

This year saw 17 shows from across the Gag roster take over stages throughout Edinburgh, with new shows, returning favourites, award nominations, big wins and plenty of brilliant reviews along the way. From magic and mentalism to stand-up, drag, interactive comedy and everything in between, it’s been another huge Fringe for the Gag team and the artists we represent.

Awards & Accolades

It was a particularly strong Fringe when it came to awards and recognition, with several Gag artists picking up nominations and accolades throughout the festival.

Harriet Dyer was nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Comedy Show for Easily Distra… and also took home the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Show.

Colin Cloud and Patrick Monahan both picked up Mervyn Stutter Spirit of the Fringe Awards, recognising their respective shows Hoax and I’m Not A Terrorist – I’m Freddie Mercury, with Rosco McClelland also receiving a pick of the programme from Broadway World. 

And Kate Butch was among the nominees for ISH Joke of the Fringe, with Rosco McClelland, John Robertson and Phil Nichol all nominated for various awards across the run, adding another bit of recognition to an already very busy Fringe for the Gag roster.

The Reviews Are In

The awards weren’t the only thing making noise this year. The Gag roster picked up some seriously strong reviews across the Fringe, with critics praising everything from big theatrical magic to brutally funny stand-up.

Ben Hart’s The Labyrinth was praised for its inventive mix of magic, mentalism and theatricality, and Colin Cloud’s Hoax was described as hitting “another level”.

Mr Thing’s The Mr Thing Show was hailed as one of the most electric shows at the Fringe, while Rosco McClelland’s The Bones picked up strong reviews for its storytelling and consistently sharp comedy.

Kate Butch’s A Kate in the Hand Is Worth Two in the Butch was praised as sharp, silly and fabulous fun, while Alice Fraser’s Oh Man! received excellent reviews for its originality and humour.

Sooz Kempner’s Imposter also had a brilliant run, picking up fantastic reviews across the board as she gears up to take the show out on tour, while Thinking Drinkers brought their trademark blend of comedy and booze expertise back to the festival with Great British Pub Ride, continuing their run of praise for pioneering a genre all of their own.

And of course, Harriet Dyer’s Easily Distra… received a glowing critical response.

There was plenty of love for the returning shows too, with Phil Nichol’s Aren’t We Lucky, James Barr’s Sorry I Hurt Your Son and John Robertson’s The Dark Room all continuing to make an impression with Fringe audiences and critics alike. Elsewhere, Chortle’s Fast Fringe once again gave audiences a taste of everything the festival had to offer, with a rotating line-up of Gag acts featuring throughout its run.

Fringe Highlights

It wasn’t just about what happened on stage this year, the programme covered an unusually wide range of formats.

Rosco McClelland brought Shooting Ropes to life for the first time with a one-off live edition alongside Christopher Macarthur-Boyd, while Mr Thing took a completely different route with a chaotic live television format, comedy, music, puppets and cameras included.

Phil Nichol marked 20 years of The Naked Racist with its return to Edinburgh, and James Barr brought a brand-new show, A Punchy Title, to the festival, alongside a one-weekend-only return of Sorry I Hurt Your Son, back by popular demand.

Thinking Drinkers took their comedy on the road within the festival itself, riding a tandem bike between some of the city’s best-loved pubs as part of Great British Pub Ride, while Sooz Kempner used her run of Imposter as a springboard into a UK-wide tour. Fast Fringe, meanwhile, kept things fresh night after night with a rotating cast pulling from across the Gag roster.

Behind the Scenes: Gag Team Round-Up

Of course, Edinburgh Fringe isn’t just about what happens on stage. Behind every show is a team of people working around the clock to keep everything moving.

Throughout August, the Gag team were busy behind the scenes supporting the roster, getting from venue to venue and, naturally, documenting as much of the Fringe chaos as possible.

From opening nights and backstage snaps to team catch-ups and celebrating the artists’ successes, our August socials captured a little bit of what Edinburgh looked like from the Gag side of the fence.

And That’s a Wrap…

And just like that, another Edinburgh Fringe is in the books.

From award wins and nominations to brilliant reviews, packed shows and plenty of memorable moments, it’s been a huge month for the Gag roster.

A massive thank you to everyone who came along, supported the shows and helped make another Fringe one to remember. And, of course, congratulations to all of the artists and the Gag team who made it happen.

What’s Next?

But while Edinburgh might be over for another year, there’s no slowing down for the Gag roster. With tours, new shows and plenty more dates already lined up across the UK, there’s lots more to come over the next few months.

Team Gag x