Adam Meggido on the ups and downs of the Edinbugrh Fringe

Back at Edinburgh as part of Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, Adam Meggido talks about what he can't get enough of at the festival; recalls his most embarrassing Edinburgh experience and complains about the worst thing about the Fringe (apart from the cost of accommodation, obviously).

Edinburgh Binge

The Edinburgh Fringe is where you see shows you can’t see anywhere else, and for me that means... Ninja content! 

Tokyo Shock Boys - risky stunts often involving ‘Ninja Nuts’.
Batsu: Comedians forced to do more of the above, ‘Raw Ninja’. 
Tokyo Idiots: Even more of the same, ‘Grated Ninja’.
Ganba: Immersive family version of Batsu - ‘Ninja and Pickles’.
Choir of Men: ‘Ninja Beer’.
Hot Mikado: ‘Ninja Spice’.
Martial Arts Photography Exhibition: ‘Ninja Snaps’.
Madam Butterfly: ‘Ninja Rogers’.
Sumo Wrestling: ‘Risk of serious Ninjary’
Samurai/Cherry Blossom Macbeth - Directed by Ninagawa, (‘Ninja’gawa’). I saw it at the Kings Theatre, loved it and saw it again and bought the actual poster from the front of the theatre. 10 years later I was in a Ninagawa show at the Kings Theatre with my name on a poster at the front. I have that one too. 
Anything with air fryers.

Edinburgh Binge

A publicity picture for my own cabaret show some years back, featuring myself, naked, lying on an upright piano, with the back of my accompanist’s head judiciously placed.

Yes, I was displaying my pianist.

Sad to say the pic was the best thing about the show, got a lot of publicity, and was featured in The Guardian. Where my parents saw it.

Edinburgh Whinge

The huge number of cheese graters I have bought over the years for all those kitchens.

Every year, every Fringe, another kitchen and another cheese grater!! If you are in an Edinburgh flat and it’s got a cheese grater, then I bought it.

Now I am not talking about your single-planed, rectangular, knuckle-scraping ticket to A&E, or your flimsy ‘micro plane paddle’ nonsense which crumples up on a single nugget of fridge rock cheddar. Nor do I refer to the ridiculous pretension of the rustic long handled rasp, or the hideous monstrosity that is the rotary drum.

I mean the classic, four-sided, multi-purpose kitchen utensil that can stand up for itself. Literally.

I have single handedly supported the Lothian Cheese Grater industry to such an extent, that it is now a significant factor in Scotland’s GDP. Grated Dairy Product.

Note: Never grate cheese in a state of undress, at the risk of ‘Shredded Ninja’.

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical is on at the Pleasance Grand at 5.20pm. There is also a kids' versio at 10:30am on Saturdays and Sundays.

Published: 16 Aug 2026