Including a new one from Alex Edelman

Pleasance has announced its latest wave of performers for this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, including  comedians Flo & Joan, Tim Vine and Alex Edelman 

Edelman, whose previous Edinburgh show Just For Us earned him an Edinburgh Comedy Award nomination before a Broadway run and an HBO special that won both a Tony and an Emmy, returns with What Are You Going to Do, described as a mix of personal reflection, seashells, various deities and a Jerusalem hospital ward. 

Flo & Joan are reprising One Man Musical, about Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber – which previously featured a tour-de-force performance from George Fouracres before he landed a job on Saturday Night Live UK, although this year’s casting has yet to be announced. Meanwile Vine, brings a show called Sillypun Valley, promising a fresh batch of his trademark wordplay.

Also in the programme  are Alok, with a show exploring desire and heartbreak called Eat Pray Leave, and Lucy Porter, whose new hour, The Name of the Games, draws on her experiences with quiz and game shows.

Political comedian Matt Forde arrives fresh from his biggest tour to date with Project Holy Moly, which tackles populism, global instability and his own health. Nick Helm, who will appear for three nights only, is set to launch his third studio album Down ’N’ Dirty. While Patti Harrison returns for what the venue says will be a chaotic show featuring some of her friends, called Just Ironing Some Things Out!

Indian comic Kanan Gill, Russian emigre Sasha Nezlobin,  New Zealand’s Chris Parker, Norway’s Viggo Venn – winner of Britain’s Got Talent in 2024 – and Australia’s Zachary Ruane, a member of sketch group Aunty Donna help bring up the international quotient.

Other comics heading to Pleasance include Hannah East, Andrew Maxwell, Demi Adejuyigbe, Katie Norris, Alfie Dundas and Cecily Hitchcock are also performing – while 

And Saturday Night Live UK cast member  Ayoade Bamgboye will be reprising the show that won her the Edinburgh Comedy Awards best newcomer prize last year for three nights only.

The Pleasance Comedy Reserve, now in its 20th edition, showcases four emerging comedians chosen by the venue with this year’s line-up comprising Ciara O’Connor, Eli Hart, Laura Walsh and Roman Harris.

The news comes ahead of a major drop of shows on the official Edinburgh Fringe box office tomorrow, when every show that registered in time for the printed programme goes online. Bigger venues steal a march on that by putting their shows on early – with Gilded making a similar announcement earlier today and Assembly on Friday.

Meanwhile The Stand has announced work-in-progress from Mark Watson, Burnistoun’s Iain Connell, and farmer-comedian Jim Smith. Elsewhere in the venue’s programme Scot Squad’s Chris Forbes launches a live version of his podcast Stop Watering Dead Flowers while a series of Scottish Comedy Legends audience-with-style shows features a line-up that includes Arabella Weir, Sanjeev Kohli, Greg Hemphill and The Chief himself Jack Docherty.

Meanwhile, Summerhall is hosting a work-in-progress of a new play written and performed by Shaparak Khorsandi, Kismet (قسمت), about the experiences of her Iranian family being scattered around the globe after the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Published: 5 May 2026