© Elliot Minogue-Stone
I preferred it when the Fringe was more haphazard
Ian Stone's binge, cringe and whinge
Ian Stone is at the Edinburgh Fringe performing his show The Pleb’s Pow Wow is on at Laughing Horse at The Counting House at 4pm. Here he shares what he can't get enough of at the festival, his most embarrassing Edinburgh experience and the worst thing about the Fringe. Apart from the cost of accommodation, obviously…
Fringe binge
So this is my tenth solo Fringe, and probably thirtieth Fringe in total. Obviously, something keeps drawing me back. If I had to think about what that was, I'd say it's the big ceilings of the apartment we stay in. I never get this much light at home. I think it's good for me. I also think the Indian food in the Old Town is excellent.
And I love being a small part of the biggest arts festival on earth. I'll try to see things I wouldn't normally see, and hang out with mates I don't see the rest of the year, and generally mooch about. I'll also try to spend time sitting in the sunshine on The Meadows.
After that, I imagine I'll find other things to amuse me. I'm going to try and see more Free Fringe shows this year. Aside from the fact I'm doing a free show myself, I really like the ethos of the Free Fringe. And you never know what you'll find. Might be awful, might be the beginning of a huge career. I like those possibilities.
Fringe cringe
This didn't happen to me, but I love the story, so I'll tell you. A performer up here got two one-star reviews on the same day, one from The Scotsman and one from The Herald. He was only aware of one. He was walking to his gig when he bumped into a fellow performer. ‘Sorry about the review in The Scotsman, mate.’ ‘You mean The Herald.’ ‘No, The Scotsman.’ I wish I'd witnessed it with my own eyes, but I was there in spirit.
Also, the time Tony Allen came to Edinburgh with a show called Sold Out, and he really struggled for audiences because everyone thought the show was sold out.
Fringe whinge
I think I preferred things when they were a bit more haphazard. Like everything nowadays, things are more corporate, and there's less chance of discovering something weird and wonderful.
Published: 8 Aug 2026
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Agent
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