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The National
11-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Five of the best things I've seen at the Edinburgh Fringe so far
The Fringe is incredible for taking you on a journey through the full spectrum of the human experience, from cringe-inducing low to euphoric highs. These five picks can be placed in the latter category. Cat Cohen: Broad Strokes Catherine Cohen is performing at the Fringe (Image: Dev Bowman) Cat Cohen is an absolute whirlwind of a woman. She comes on stage in silhouette, before the lights reveal a fantastically glamorous sequinned get-up and she bursts into song. The diva energy is palpable from the outset. Cohen's hour-long show focuses on her experience of having a stroke in her early 30s – combining themes of self-doubt, millennial self-interest and showbiz ambitions with her health journey. Her ability to coin a phrase is incredible (I can't stop thinking about describing hospital lighting as "giving cellulite), and almost as impressive as her extremely catchy cabaret songs (which I hummed on the train all the way home). This is an incredibly tight hour of comedy and music from a young woman absolutely bursting with talent. The future is incredibly bright for Miss Cohen. Rating: 5/5 Find out more here Kieran Hodgson: Voice of America Kieran Hodgson is probably most recognisable to Scottish audiences from his role as Gordon in Two Doors Down. What you might not know is that Kieran had a minor role as "Sandwich Guy" in DC film The Flash. The team behind the film required that he perform with an American accent – prompting the English-born, Glasgow-based comedian to reckon with his understanding of what it really means to be American in 2025. This is a seriously smart hour of stand-up, which also manages to showcase Hodgson's exceptional impression skills. He is also just a seriously likeable guy. Note: I am slightly cheating here, as I saw a preview of this show in Glasgow rather than at its actual Edinburgh run. Rating: 4/5 Find out more here The Fit Prince (who gets switched on the square in the frosty castle the night before (insert public holiday here)) The Fit Prince has maybe the longest title of any Fringe show this year (Image: Awkward Productions) Having already seen Awkward Productions' brilliant Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story, this was one of my must-sees going into Fringe 2025. It more than lived up to expectation. The Fit Prince is an extremely funny, extremely silly take on the sorts of cookie-cutter Netflix Christmas films and Hallmark movies that get pumped out of the Content Factory every year and inexplicably make massive amounts of money. With low-budget props and clever use of pre-filmed segments from LGBT+ cult favourites, the talented team behind the show create a lot out of a little. The highlight is the mini-concert from Swedonian favourites BAAB (obviously a play on ABBA), with creators Linus Karp and Joseph Martin donning their sparkly dresses for renditions of everyone's favourite pop hits – including Movement King. As ever, the latest production from this team includes lots of hilarious audience interaction ... so be prepared to take to the stage and become a part of the cast if you head to this one. Rating: 4/5 Find out more here Mark Jennings: Bread and Circuses Marc Jennings is seriously funny. I first came across him years ago online as he was doing a pitch-perfect impression of former Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross. I've followed his career ever since. The stand-up comedian and podcaster is an underrated talent who deserves a lot more attention. Maybe this latest show will do the trick. Discussing everything from modern dating to the mess of UK and Scottish politics, Jennings darts easily from one topic to another with the ease of your mate at the pub. This one has some seriously quotable punchlines too. Rating: 4/5 Find out more here Body Count Issy Knowles is the writer and performer behind Body Count (Image: Body Count) Body Count, a new one-woman show from Issy Knowles, explores the horrifying world of competitive sex. Based loosely on the infamous escapades of women like Bonnie Blue and Lily Phillips, this show imagines the inner life of those who participate in increasingly extreme sexual activities. With only a smartphone, a bed and a whole lot of condoms, Knowles brings together a thought-provoking, well-structured performance. I would have liked more exploration of how social media led us here, rather than some of the more cliched and one-dimensional depictions of the men in the story, but overall this show is a real talker. Go with your friends, and discuss it over a pint afterwards. Is the line between empowerment and degradation really so thin? Rating: 3.5/5 Find out more here Let us know what your favourite shows have been in the comments.
Metro
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Netflix's Cat Cohen had a stroke age 30 and it's a surprisingly hilarious story
Cat Cohen is a force of comedy nature. Only she can perform a whole show about having a stroke without allowing the audience a moment to draw breath between laughs. Broad Strokes marks the 33-year-old US comedian's triumphant and beautifully unhinged return to the Edinburgh Fringe, with sold-out nights up to her eyeballs and a show that fully deserves every star. The Only Murders in the Building star's cabaret-style hour is jam-packed with belly laughs and intentionally navel-gazing gags about the need to be the brightest, most interesting woman in the world. 'It's giving coastal grandmother aesthetic,' Cat says of her stroke, which happened just as she was about to travel to (demure French accent incoming) 'Eurrrropppe' in 2023 for her cancelled Fringe run. Netflix special star Cat's on-stage persona is far more preoccupied with the image of having a stroke than the stroke itself: is the physical hole in her heart a manifestation of her need for validation? Isn't it 'creative' to have a stroke at the age of 30? Not only is Cat one of the most impressive stand-up comedians to grace the Pleasance Courtyard, but she also sings hilariously penned songs which explore important topics like, 'Are you mad at me?!?!?!' in a silky-smooth voice and ample glitz, primed for the West End. But there isn't a whiff of musical cheese here: just radical frankness and deft comedy that scratches the bones of the zeitgeist before we realise we're in it. Describing her stroke, Cat doesn't take a serious turn but amps up the comedy by 100 decibels. She's watching Selling Sunset and tries to turn it off, but her arm won't move. 'Okay, Chrishell…' she panics. This is typical of Cat's humour: irreverent and unapologetic. The idea of being a normal girl makes Cat's skin crawl. As do 'adult blondes' who no one should trust . Another recurring joke is that Cat still identifies as 'young for her grade' which means she can't reasonably be expected to buy a house or grow up any time soon. But Cat isn't just a relatable queen. She's also an incredibly skilled joke writer, crafting multi-layered and surprising gags just when the audience thinks they've got the measure of her. Like when the Uber arrives to take a distressed Cat to the hospital, and she sees a female driver. 'What is this, the f***ing Barbie movie?' she jokes. More Trending Somehow, Cat provides maximum laughs and minimum trauma-dumping in a show exclusively about her hitting rock bottom. Well, she's picked herself up from the floor and created one of the Fringe's most exciting shows this year. It's a, ahem, stroke of genius. I'm left wondering: what can't Cat Cohen do? Cat Cohen: Broad Strokes is showing at the Edinburgh Fringe until 24 August. Tickets here. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Alan Davies 'moved' by audience during his harrowing show detailing childhood abuse MORE: TV star's harrowing show detailing abuse is a must-watch for all fat people MORE: Record-breaking TV series hailed 'funniest in ages' launches on free UK streamer
Evening Standard
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Evening Standard
Edinburgh Fringe Round Up
Sometimes the stories come completely out of the blue. New Yorker Cat Cohen, winner of the 2019 Best Newcomer Award here, had a major tour planned for 2023 which she abruptly cancelled. In her latest show Broad Strokes – don't call it a comeback – Cohen (Pleasance, five stars) reveals how she had a stroke at the age of 30. It was totally unexpected, though looking back there may have been a link to the migraines that she had suffered from since childhood. She thought she was a hypochondriac but an MRI scan revealed a hole in her heart. Though of course she could still be a hypochondriac.
Scotsman
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Fringe Comedy reviews: John Tothill
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... John Tothill: This Must Be Heaven Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33) ★★★★☆ Thanyia Moore: August Upstairs at Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33) ★★★☆☆ Alison Spittle: BIG Monkey Barrel 1 (Venue 515) ★★★★☆ Ben Pope: The Cut The Box at Assembly George Square (Venue 8) ★★★★☆ Cat Cohen: Broad Strokes Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33) ★★★★☆ John Tothill's gorgeously louche character could have us spellbound whether he had a strong story to tell or not, but, good gracious, does he have a humdinger of a tale in This Must Be Heaven. Last year he funded his Fringe run by taking part in a medical experiment that gave him malaria – and plenty of material for that year's show, The Last Living Libertine. But a few days into the run he developed crippling stomach pain which he tried, like the jolly-old pro he is, to ignore. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad John Tothill: This Must Be Heaven | Contributed The symptoms worsened and it turned out that his appendix had been obliterated, causing intra-abdominal sepsis that could have killed him. The poor man was hallucinating with it and could barely move. His description of the ordeal is wrapped in a velvety bundle of whimsical flourishes, in which he touches upon everything from the Margate Crab Museum's devotion to destroying the bourgeoisie to the ways in which his love of indulgence is hindering his goals. After several playful teasers, he tells us about Edward Dando, an unapologetic Victorian oyster glutton and thief. This was a man, declares the foppish Tothill, who was free; who truly knew himself. It's deliriously fun being in the company of someone who wears his learning with such playful elegance, every sentence and gesture delivering a big laugh. He's like a devilish cocktail of the best elements of Oscar Wilde, Miles Jupp and your favourite naughty friend whose persuasive 'Oh, let's have one more, darling,' leads to you calling in sick the following day. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It was also during the Fringe – two years ago – that Thanyia Moore ended up in hospital. Well prepared and supported, she was excited for the debut show that she'd been working towards for years, and she was going to 'Usain Bolt' it. But her pregnancy (she was in the first trimester) started going wrong almost immediately, and what followed were frustrating medical interventions, a necessary trip back to London, cancelled shows and a heartbreaking emotional response. Thanyia Moore: August | Rebecca Need-Menear Moore, an assured and charismatic presence with a persuasive style of storytelling, has taken time to process what happened and how she reacted at the time (blocking her loved ones, for example, after telling them what had happened), and, despite the sadness of her story, she's always in control of the mood. We're left with a clear-eyed insight into the myriad ways in which people react to losses such as this, underpinned by a comfortingly logical acceptance of statistical probability of unviable pregnancies. And, as she puts it, the comedian's curse is that 'We don't have a bad day; we have material.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Alison Spittle's medical problems were life-threatening. In BIG, her finest show to date, she describes how a cellulitis skin infection triggered by a fall turned into septicaemia, which then caused her organs to start shutting down. And in true millennial style, she started having a panic attack in hospital because she didn't have the capacity to reply to everyone who'd sent her messages of concern on Instagram. A gifted storyteller with an irresistible turn of phrase and a true gift for comedy, she has some important things to say about fatphobia – from amusement parks and clothes shops to outright cruelty during a moment when what she needed was empathy. The day Adele slimmed down was her 9/11, she jokes, and, sadly, Spittle almost feels as if she has to justify the medical reasons behind her own significant weight loss. 'I became fat so I could destroy the NHS from within,' she quips, partly in response to a well-meaning but ignorant suggestion from a family member that she lose some weight. And while, politically, Spittle had claimed her space, the sleep apnoea, pre-diabetes and cellulitis all had the same cause and she didn't really have a choice but to go on weight-loss injections. People develop their own forms of armour following traumatic experiences, and Spittle trusts us with a brief but courageous insight into something that happened to her when she was very young. BIG is a beautifully crafted piece of work – as important and funny as it is radical. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ben Pope's need for surgery wasn't an emergency, but his problem was causing discomfort. Like one in 100 people with penises, he had phimosis – an excess of foreskin. As with an Amazon delivery, there was too much packaging, he jokes. But although he covers, with great wit and gentle, instinctive charm, the process of deciding to 'Marie Kondo' his body, entertaining interactions with medical experts and the ensuing pain (gosh, but there's a horribly vivid simile to look forward to), The Cut seems really to be about the value of communication and love. On one level, there's the conversation his girlfriend instigates about his intimate problem (and some funny-cos-they're-true observations about how ill-equipped we are linguistically to compliment a penis), while on another he shares insight about his relationship with his father, who lived with Parkinson's over the past decade of his life. In order to help his dad continue to do things he loved, Pope, a man who's clearly as generous as he is self-deprecating, would facilitate the older man's interests in a way that appears to have brought them both emotionally and physically closer. There's nothing mawkish here, though: it's just a beautifully constructed and communicated slice of life that also happens to be funny all the way through. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The term 'main character energy' could have been invented for Cat Cohen, who's made a career out of her dramatic self-obsession. It's a trait that might be tiresome in less boldly talented hands, but delivering it via comedy cabaret packed with some extremely candid personal information, she's a true star of our age. Cat Cohen: Broad Strokes | Dev Bowman At the age of 30 the American discovered she'd had a stroke (though it's hard to determine exactly when it happened), caused by a hole in her heart. Having been a lifelong hypochondriac who will forever be outraged by having been called a 'normal girl' at stage school, she felt not only vindicated by the medical revelation, but thrilled about the attention it would deliver. Sure, she had to cancel a Fringe run and European tour for the surgery and she makes artful sport about the fact that she hates not to be in control, but she certainly gets a lot of mileage out of it and the adoration from her largely millennial audience seems absolute. All shows run until 24 August
