Sketch trio Crybabies on the best and worst of the festival

As they return to Edinburgh with their new show The Scaring, comedy sketch trio Crybabies – Michael Clarke, James Gault and Ed Jones – talk about what they can't get enough of at the festival; recall their most embarrassing Edinburgh experiences; and share the worst thing about the Fringe. Apart from the cost of accommodation, obviously.

Edinburgh Binge

We’ve had to stop giving James the login to our ticket sales portal. It was perfectly harmless to start off with. After a day’s writing, the three of us would kick back and open up a sales report or two but after our first Fringe run, it started to really become an issue. 

We saw he wasn’t just logging in on his laptop anymore. He’d downloaded the Red61 box office app directly onto his phone. And while they say those things have features in place to protect users - daily PDF printout limits etc - the fact is they know exactly what they’re doing. In fact, their whole business model relies on people just like him. 

He’s now what a lot of people would call a high-functioning ticket sales addict. Essentially, he can go to work, play with his kids, act like a perfectly normal member of society but then he’ll go out and spend eight hours checking whether someone from Chuckle Glug magazine has booked in for the Sunday. Male mental health matters. 

Edinburgh Cringe

Cringe is a perfectly healthy part of any Fringe festival. Ed once saw Jack Lowden on the Meadows and spent 40 minutes trying to think of something to say to him. Michael fractured his foot breaking into Waverley to get off with someone he never saw again. James spent £400 replacing the vacuum in our accommodation because he thought you could ‘hoover up water’. 

But us here at Crycorp are determined to rethink the stigma around cringe. In fact, we’ve developed a patented method that we call Cringe Yourself Warm™. After literally minutes of research, we’ve discovered that the searing heat that accompanies the recollection of an embarrassing memory can actually help raise core body temperature by up to 3 degrees. 

With fuel scarcity and the cost of living crisis showing no signs of abating, Edinburgh is the perfect time to stock up on cringe for the long winter months ahead. For more info text CryCringe to 64868.

​Edinburgh Whinge

Old people. We get it, you’ve worked hard, you’ve got as much right as anyone to be here. But you are not going to enjoy 60 minutes of narrative sketch comedy. No matter what the Telegraph says.  

Until a blanket ban can be enforced, we think Fringe pricing should work on a sliding greyscale. Discounted tickets for under 25s, standard prices for 26-59s and an 800% surcharge on 60s and up. It’s simple, it’s effective and crucially will disincentivise the smugglers/coach trip operators whose careers are built on trafficking old people into this beautiful city. Our beautiful city (people under 40).

• Crybabies: The Scaring is on at 8pm at Pleasance Courtyard

Published: 4 Aug 2026