Notes From Row H

Theatre Reviews

Review: What’s the Craic, God? at the Edinburgh Fringe

28/08/2026

PR/Gifted

Aoife is 17, about to graduate from an all-girls Catholic school in rural Ireland, and absolutely, categorically, definitely not gay. At least, that’s what she keeps telling herself.

With a mother who avoids difficult conversations, a father who prefers whiskey to parenting and a town where being different is treated like a dirty word, Aoife has one goal: go to London and never look back. But while London promises freedom, leaving means losing everything she has ever known. Staying means risking losing herself. And God? He is really not helping.

Performed by Rebecca Donovan, What’s the Craic, God? follows Aoife as she battles between conforming to the expectations placed upon her and having the courage to be her true self. Caught between her Catholic upbringing, her sexuality and the fear of what people will think, Aoife’s journey captures the messy uncertainty of figuring out who you are when everyone around you seems determined to tell you who you should be.

Donovan delivers a very strong performance, bringing Aoife and her journey vividly to life. She captures her frustration, vulnerability and determination, making Aoife’s internal battle feel both deeply personal and wonderfully relatable. There is a lovely balance between the humour and the more poignant moments, with the laughs helping to lighten some of the heavier themes without taking away from their impact.

At its heart, this is a story about the terrifying freedom of choosing yourself. What’s the Craic, God? asks what happens when the life you’re expected to live clashes with the person you actually are – and whether escaping to London can really solve everything.

Funny, heartfelt and refreshingly irreverent, this is a coming-of-age story about finding the courage to stop asking for permission to be yourself.

What’s the Craic, God? is on at 13:20 at Patter House until 31^st August.

Get your tickets here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/what-s-the-craic-god

Written by Helena Featherstone
Review: Benjamin Quirk: Twink Death at the Edinburgh Fringe

28/08/2026

PR/Gifted

Apparently, 28 is the new old. At least according to Benjamin Quirk, whose good hair, hot boyfriend and near non-existent waist are no match for the terrifying arrival of his first chest hairs. Death is coming for us all. For Quirk, it is coming sooner than most.

Twink Death is a mash-up of comedy, storytelling and vulnerability, as Quirk sets out on a mission to achieve immortality and secure a redemption arc worthy of Christ himself. It is funny and camp, but beneath the chaos is something much more heartfelt: a story about sexuality, faith and the messy journey towards accepting yourself.

Quirk is a hugely likeable performer and completely owns the stage. His energy never wavers, and his ability to jump from comedy into moments of genuine vulnerability is very impressive.

However sometimes, there is perhaps a little too much going on. The central story occasionally gets lost amongst the various ideas and genre shifts, and by the time we reach the latter bit of the play, things become increasingly difficult to piece together. The foundations of a really compelling story about the conflict between sexuality and belief are definitely there, but some of the ideas feel like they need more time to breathe and develop.

Quirk has the talent and stage presence to carry it, and with a little more tightening, Twink Death could become something really special.

For now, it is a funny and occasionally poignant show – and a reminder that if 28 really is the beginning of the end, we might as well laugh about it.

Twink Death is on at 21:00 in Patter House until 30^th August

Get your tickets here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/benjamin-quirk-twink-death

Written by Helena Featherstone
Review: Acts of Contrition at the Edinburgh Fringe

23/08/2026

PR/Gifted

“And what is Sunday Mass if not the original drag brunch?” Acts of Contrition brings a gloriously camp energy to the Fringe while telling a story that is both beautifully heartfelt and incredibly funny.

With a natural storytelling ability, Gerrard takes us through his journey from a wee Scottish Catholic boy to one of Spain’s powerhouse drag queens, exploring the surprisingly strong synergy between being gay and the Catholic Church. There is more similarity than you might think!

Through Madonna, a zealous nun and some darker moments, Gerrard explores the many “acts” and “drags” he had to put on while growing up in early-2000s Glasgow, desperately trying to hide the person he really was. The show doesn’t shy away from the more difficult side of that journey, particularly the struggle with internalised homophobia and the question of how exactly you deal with it – or, more honestly, how you sometimes spectacularly fail to.

What makes the show work so well is Gerrard’s ability to balance the humour with genuine vulnerability. One moment you’re laughing at a brilliantly camp observation, the next you’re confronted with the emotional weight behind it. The comedy never feels like it is undermining the story; instead, it becomes part of how Gerrard makes sense of it.

There is something wonderfully liberating about watching someone take the things that once caused shame and turn them into a celebration.

Acts of Contrition is funny, fabulous and full of heart, with Gerrard’s storytelling carrying us through a deeply personal journey of identity, faith, sexuality and ultimately self-acceptance.

Amen to that.

Acts of Contrition is on at 13:00 at Braw Venues @ Hill Street until 30^th August.

Get your tickets here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/acts-of-contrition

Written by Helena Featherstone
Review: B*TCH EAT DOG at the Edinburgh Fringe

23/08/2026

PR/Gifted

If you like your feminist theatre unhinged, surreal and populated by an alarming number of puppets, B*tch Eat Dog is certainly one to seek out.

Created by Mel Carter, B*tch Eat Dog uses classical texts, gender swaps and absurdist comedy to explore the patriarchy, trad-wife culture and girlboss feminism. The message is important and, for the most part, very well handled, raising some genuinely interesting questions about the ways women are expected to behave in a modern world.

The puppetry is a particular highlight. There are so many puppets – from a man desperately attempting allyship and two oyster comedians, to a talking uterus and a group of angelic hotdogs. The skill involved in bringing these bizarre characters to life is seriously impressive, and the puppets add so much to the show’s surreal world.

Where it occasionally loses its footing is in how it brings all its ideas together. Sometimes, the important messaging is a bit lost in the show’s fast paced rhythm, so at times it can feel a little haphazard.

But B*tch Eat Dog is exactly what the Fringe is meant to be. It is inventive, surreal, feminist and wonderfully weird – and the sheer talent behind the puppetry makes it a marvellous watch.

It is a bizarre, bold and brilliantly puppeted look at the patriarchy – with angelic hotdogs thrown in for good measure.

B*itch Eat Dog is on at 22:00 at Greenside @ George Street until 29^th August.

Get your tickets here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/b-tch-eat-dog

Written by Helena Featherstone
Review: Impromptunes – The Completely Improvised Musical at the Edinburgh Fringe

23/08/2026

PR/Gifted

No script, no rehearsal and absolutely no idea what is coming next – welcome to Impromptunes.

Back for its fourth year at the Fringe, this show proves that musical theatre does not always need meticulous planning. The show I saw, Pink Pony, took us into the wonderfully seedy underground world of the Pink Pony Club, complete with plenty of Chappell Roan references, outrageous characters and fabulous musical numbers.

The cast’s ability to create songs, harmonies, scenes and choreography on the spot is seriously impressive. Somehow, the chaos develops into a surprisingly coherent story, with the performers bouncing off each other brilliantly. And when things inevitably go off-piste, they simply embrace it – often creating some of the funniest moments of the show.

There is something infectious about watching a musical being created right in front of you. Every joke, plot twist and song is completely unique to that performance, meaning Pink Pony will never be performed again.

Funny, camp and wonderfully unpredictable, Impromptunes is exactly the kind of joyful silliness the Fringe does best.

Impromptunes is on at 16:55 in Ermintrude at Underbelly, Bristo Square until 30^th August.

Get your tickets here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/impromptunes-the-completely-improvised-musical

Written by Helena Featherstone
Review: Endometriosis the Musical at the Edinburgh Fringe

16/08/2026

Endometriosis: The Musical is exactly the kind of Fringe show that manages to make you laugh while simultaneously making you want to scream. Hilarious, infuriating and surprisingly heartfelt, it takes an all-too-serious subject and turns it into an irresistibly catchy musical.

Jane has big business dreams, a mysterious illness and doctors who seem determined not to listen. As she navigates a healthcare system that repeatedly dismisses her pain, we follow her frustrating journey towards answers – and, ultimately, empowerment.

The show’s greatest strength is its ability to balance comedy with genuine anger. The humour never diminishes the seriousness of Jane’s experience; instead, it highlights just how absurd and infuriating the barriers she faces are. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, but they are accompanied by a very real sense of frustration at a system that seems to value neither health nor care.

And then there is the music. The score is ridiculously catchy, with songs that worm their way into your head long after leaving the theatre. It is impossible not to find yourself smiling, and occasionally, wondering why a song about endometriosis is quite this much of a bop.

Funny, empowering and genuinely moving, Endometriosis: The Musical proves that even the most frustrating subjects can become fantastic theatre. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll probably do both at the same time.

Standing Ovulation!

Endometriosis: The Musical is on at 16:00 in Patter House until 31^st August

Get your tickets here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/endometriosis-the-musical

Written by Helena Featherstone