Jess Robinson is known for being on tv programmes such as Dead Ringers and The Last Leg.
Jess Robinson has divas in her head just desperate to get out to sing the tracks of her life, which come from her love and admiration of Elton John. She’s a powerhouse as she belts out songs that pay homage to him, but in various “divas” voices from Billie Holliday to Kate Bush to Britney Spears to Amy Winehouse to Billie Eillish and more… There’s even an amusing duet involving “Katherine Jenkins” and “Mary Poppins”. As surreal as it sounds, this is a very well put together show, which shows a large range of her impressionist talents. There’s also a bit of funny satire smartly put in there too. When she sings a song straight, she actually has a very listenable singing voice. Whether its her own voice or impersonating someone else’s voice. she has a large vocal range, whether its a popstar or she’s hitting the highest notes of an opera singer.
If you want to see what many female divas sound like singing Elton John songs, then check out more info here for Your Song
Jess Robinson also mentioned she has a book coming out soon. Published by Harper Collins, this biography tells the story of a member of her family in war times and also weaves Jess’s life in here and now in modern day Britain.
Returning to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025, Sean Alexander brings back his spellbinding show, “1 Moment in Time,” refined and more powerful than ever. Following a critically acclaimed debut last year, this mesmerising storytelling magic show has garnered multiple rave reviews, described as “mind-boggling,” “jaw-dropping,” and “truly miraculous.” Now, with fresh elements and deeper emotional resonance, Sean Alexander invites audiences once again to explore the defining moments that shape our lives.
From historic milestones like the invention of the lightbulb to deeply personal experiences, “1 Moment in Time” interweaves masterful storytelling with astonishing illusions to create an unforgettable experience. With audience participation at its heart, the show challenges us to reflect on our own pivotal moments and the ripple effects they create. As one man searches for his defining moment, audiences will be drawn into an intimate and thought-provoking journey of time, memory, and destiny.
1 Moment in Time blends emotionally-driven storytelling with mind-blowing magic, described by audiences as “thought-provoking”, “inspiring”, and “utterly unforgettable”. It explores the moments that define us, challenge us, and change the course of our lives; all through the lens of illusion and theatre.
Sean Alexander’s 28-year career includes two Royal performances, an acclaimed 24-hour online celebrity charity show, and a show-stopping reveal of the ICC T20 World Cup trophy to UAE Royalty and cricket legends in 2024. With performances on some of the most prestigious stages, including the London Palladium, and recognition from the likes of America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent, Sean has cemented his reputation as one of the most innovative magicians today. Lauded as “on a par with David Blaine” (City Times Dubai), his work with celebrities such as Amanda Holden, Jamie Redknapp, and Romesh Ranganathan showcases his unmatched skill and creativity.
Critics last year described it as:
“One of the standout performances at the Fringe… especially for kids, as it offers an inspiring message: no matter what happens, never give up because miracles do happen.” North West End
TV personality Alistair McGowan came to see the show and said he was “knocked out” by it.
Following its debut last year, “1 Moment in Time” is now embarking on an India tour after successful performances in both Dubai and Mumbai, as well as a UK national tour. This international success further cements Sean Alexander’s reputation as a world-class performer, captivating audiences across the globe with his unique blend of magic and storytelling.
For an unforgettable evening of mind-bending magic and profound storytelling, don’t miss “1 Moment in Time” at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025.
“Spellbinding – Mind-boggling – Truly Miraculous” – British Theatre Guide “Jaw-dropping – One of the standout performances of the fringe” – North West End “Excellent Show – Impeccable – Pure delight and Amazement” – Fringe Review
Famous for showcasing some of the most critically acclaimed, thought provoking and daring international work in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, #DANISH returns with five new shows to celebrate five exhilarating seasons of work from Denmark. Alongside this theatrical feast for the senses, the showcase’s Fringe First winning international hit THE INSIDER returns for an exclusive run at The Pleasance’s King Dome, allowing audiences and reviewers a second chance to enjoy this astonishing high-tech bank heist thriller based on a true story.
Committed to bringing the finest performance work from Denmark to the world via the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, this year’s showcase includes a line-up of daring women taking on hard wood and big balls, a dashing Dane in a dinner suit keen to ply you with cocktails, a soloist exploring belonging through her Danish/Greenlandic heritage, a man wrestling internal demons from his armchair and a brand new physical theatre company taking Europe by storm.
A highlight of this year’s new works is the return of the award-winning Danish company HIMHERANDIT Productions, which captivated audiences in 2023 with the powerful MASS EFFECT at Summerhall. This year, they return to Edinburgh with the deeply moving performance CHAMPIONS at Pleasance.
#DANISH continues in 2025 with support from the Danish Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is a multi-year collaboration between the founder of the #DANISH initiative, production company WILDTOPIA and the Embassy of Denmark in the UK.
This year the #DANISH showcase is proud to introduce:
Danish Theatre Award Nominee Champions A Heroic Internal Struggle
Hot on the heels of Edinburgh Fringe 2023’s sensational Summerhall success MASS EFFECT, HIMHERANDIT Artistic Director and Choreographer Andreas Constantinou introduces a work so strikingly different that the juxtaposition of both pieces marks a defining moment in his career so far. Award-nominated Constantinou’s Champions is a deeply personal, emotionally charged performance delving into themes of family dynamics, identity, loneliness, and resilience. This impactful 30-minute piece seamlessly blends theatre, live art, video projections, and haunting audio to immerse audiences in a vivid portrayal of personal struggle and self-acceptance.
In Champions, Constantinou courageously confronts his strained relationship with his homophobic father, stern mother, and his own vulnerabilities. Seated silently before the audience, Constantinou allows recorded conversations with his parents and therapist to unveil layers of grief, rejection, and emotional turmoil. This intimate narrative creates an intense, reflective atmosphere that engages viewers profoundly.
Dynamic and unsettling, the performance’s set erupts with striking video projections depicting an intense wrestling match between two men, an evocative metaphor for Constantinou’s internal battles. These visuals alternate with quiet stillness, mirroring the tension between silent endurance and inner chaos. Venue: Pleasance, EICC, Pentland Dates: 31st Jul – 16th Aug Time: 20:30 Duration: 45 min Ticket Price: From £10
A Greenlandic Inspired Dance Of Belonging And Becoming
Drawing on her joint Greenlandic Inuit and Danish heritage, performer Sarah Aviaja Hammeken brings a timely and enchanting work of belonging and becoming to the Edinburgh Fringe. Her work, SOIL, is a compelling dance performance deeply rooted in Greenlandic traditions, exploring identity, language, and cultural belonging. Through the resonant movements and rhythms of Kalaallisut, this solo performance by Hammeken herself embodies a powerful exploration of cultural connection beyond spoken words and geographical boundaries. A poetic and physical journey of self-discovery, SOIL illuminates the intimate relationship between language, body, and heritage. It invites audiences to experience the beauty and challenges of communication in new ways. Produced in collaboration with Dansehallerne.
Venue: Dance Base Dates: 1st – 17th Aug (Not 4th, 11th) Time: 15:50 Duration: 45 min Ticket Price: From £15.50
A family friendly show for both hardcore circus lovers and artistically inclined audiences alike. The show explores authentic and profoundly touching topics as it leads their audience through emotional highs and lows and ultimately leaves it joyous and excited with a new outlook on how far human collaboration could take our society.
Since premiering debut show The Genesis less than a year ago, fledgling acrobatic company The Copenhagen Collective has dazzled audiences across Europe with this moving contemporary work that uses breathtaking feats of circus artistry to explore themes of togetherness, conflict, integration and collaboration, all while leaving audiences gasping for more.
Venue: Assembly, Main Hall Dates: 31 July – 25 Aug (not 6, 11, 18 Aug), Time: 12:30pm Duration: 60 min Ticket Price: From £10.50
Female Power In A World Of Hard Wood And Big Balls
From the Danish dance company DON GNU, who brought you compelling macho dance off Tennis and acclaimed exploration of modern masculinity M.I.S. – All Night Long, comes a girly K.I.S.S.
Don’t let yourself be fooled by the lip smacker of a title, however, because this love letter to the trials of feminism and meeting men on their own terms comes with a powerful punch of energy and imagination from female performers, Nadja Bounenni, Giulia Quacqueri & Paulína Šmatláková.
Translated to Women in Socks and Sandals for the Edinburgh Fringe from its original Danish title K.I.S.S (Kvinder I Sokker Og Sandaler), the show explores what happens when women enter a world created by men. What is it like to be expected to act like the men around them? Is it possible for them to find their own expression in world of raw physicality, ego battles, and cheesy dad humour? Or is the air coming out of the balloon? What does female power in a world of hard wood and big balls look like? Produced in collaboration with Bora Bora.
Venue: Zoo Southside Dates: 1st – 10th Aug Time: 13:20 Duration: 60 min Ticket Price: From £16
Age Guidance: 12+
Reviews From: 1st Aug
Prerun: Aberdeen Performing Arts – International Season, 30. Jul
An internationally critically acclaimed Scotsman Fringe First Winner in 2023, The Insiderreturns to give audiences a second chance to see this incredible visual phenomenon live. Based on a real scandal, it charts the story of a young bank lawyer sucked into a criminal financial network, intent on stealing £50 Billion from treasuries around Europe. With superb acting, an extraordinary visual and binaural soundscape that enhances the building tension and a compelling script exploring greed and large-scale financial fraud, this show is guaranteed to send chills down your spine!
‘Unexpectedly gripping, brilliantly inventive and technically ground-breaking… an immersive masterpiece‘
★★★★★ Liam Rudden, Must See Theatre
‘It would be a crime to avoid a play that manages to create so specific and unique a vision’ ★★★★ British Theatre Guide
★★★★★ Theatre-News
Venue: Pleasance, Pleasance Dome, King Dome Dates: 30th Jul – 23rd Aug Time: 13:30 Duration: 65 min Ticket Price: From £10
When You’re Up To Your Neck In Shit – It’s No Use Hanging Your Head
Dashing Dane Caspar Phillipson, invites you to join him for a naughty Copenhagen cocktail of absurd current affairs, the thrilling life of a middle-aged married man, and Tom Lehrer classics in Late Night Lehrer. Edinburgh Fringe 2025 sees Phillipson premiering the English language version of the play, which has been playing in Copenhagen, as well as touring Denmark, for the past five years. Phillipson is your late-night host at the piano, taking a sharp look at international current affairs and life’s absurdities through the lens of famous musical satirist Tom Lehrer’s shockingly timely songs. A morbid yet dazzlingly entertaining evening of satire and music. As Caspar’s Danish grandma used to say: ‘When you’re up to your neck in shit – it’s no use hanging your head’.
Venue: Greenside, George Street, Lime Dates: 1st– 9th, 18th -23rd Aug Time: 20:45 Duration: 60 min Ticket Price: From £7
Age Guidance: 14+
Reviews From: 4th Aug
Danish Cultural AttachéLone Britt Christensen, from the Danish Embassy in London has followed the work behind #DANISH since 2018. She says:
“This year has an incredibly strong line up of Danish theatre and dance organisations, and the Danish Embassy is again this year proud to collaborate with Wildtopia on supporting all the Danish talent at the Edinburgh Fringe. This platform has built up a reputation of showcasing high quality work from Denmark. So don’t miss it!”
Arts Entrepreneur and Founding Producer of #DANISH, Karen Toftegaard said:
“The role of art in the world is more important than ever. With #DANISH, we are not only creating export opportunities – we are strengthening Denmark’s cultural connections and positioning Danish performing arts in an international context, where art becomes a catalyst for dialogue and relationships. And we simply love meeting people from Scotland and the whole world in Edinburgh every year.”
#DANISH is the Danish showcase at Edinburgh Fringe 2025 presented in a collaboration by founding producer WILDTOPIA and The Embassy of Denmark in the UK – supported by The Danish Ministry of Culture and Foreign Affairs.
theSpaceUK Announces Over 100 New Shows on Sale for Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025
Sauna Boy (Dan Ireland-Reeves)Diya Shah? Diya Shahn’t (Diya Shah)Vincent: His Quest to Love and Be Loved (Wêla Kapela Productions)
There’s even more reasons to be excited this April as theSpaceUK adds over 100 new shows to its 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme, now on sale at www.theSpaceUK.com.
From powerful new writing and gripping drama to outrageous comedy, magic, musicals, and cutting-edge physical theatre, the latest additions promise something for everyone. Book your tickets now and be part of the Fringe’s most dynamic venue!
Drama & Theatre Tackling big themes with wit and urgency, The Pornstar Martini Effect: A Bartender’s Guide to Not K*lling Yourself at Christmas (52 Theatre Co.) follows two bartenders confronting harassment, gender dynamics, and identity on Christmas Eve. Meanwhile, dark comedy A Play About Feet (Find Your Feet Theatre Company) takes audiences on a chaotic journey through love, ambition, and questionable life choices.
History and myth collide in 1 King, 2 Princes and Shakespeare’s Lie (Slade Wolfe Enterprises Limited), where Richard III returns to challenge history itself in an electrifying solo performance. Elsewhere, Waiting for Elvis (Plush Tiger Productions) imagines a chance meeting between a young Elvis Presley, Agatha Christie’s Margaret Rutherford, and an eager fan in a Scottish airport lounge.
For those who wonder what happens after “The End,” After Shakespeare (Slade Wolfe Enterprises Limited) weaves a fresh narrative for four of Shakespeare’s most iconic characters, blending historical research with original storytelling.
Music & Musicals The life of Vincent Van Gogh takes centre stage in Vincent: His Quest to Love and Be Loved (Wêla Kapela Productions), a moving mini-musical exploring the artist’s passion, pain, and relentless drive to create.
Meanwhile, corporate satire meets song in You’re Fired! The Musical (McPhilemy and Pozzuto), a razor-sharp look at ambition, success, and the personal cost of capitalism, as one hopeful businessman competes for his big break.
Rocky Horror and Beetlejuice fans won’t want to miss Ghosted! A New Musical (Makena Margolin and Hayden Kline), a riotous blend of comedy, music, and paranormal mayhem following a grieving best friend’s attempts to summon a ghost—only to be haunted by a mischievous spirit.
For a dose of romance, My Sweetheart and Me (Suntree Productions) transports audiences to a Northern Irish bar in 1969, where love and laughter unfold through intertwined love stories.
Cabaret & Comedy Scottish absurdist comedy takes centre stage with This Play Sucks! (Sean Tennant), a wild, vampire-infused caper that sees two Highlanders hatch a half-baked plot to kidnap a reclusive lord—only to find themselves in way over their heads. Over in the apocalypse, 4’s a Crowd (Or What Not to Do When Stuck in a Bunker During the Apocalypse) (The Fiascoholics) delivers a fast-paced, side-splitting farce about five survivors, four shares of food, and one impossible decision.
Award-winning stand-up Diya Shah? Diya Shahn’t (Diya Shah) brings sharp observational humour to her Fringe debut, while Abby Denton: My Favorite Loser (Abby Denton) makes the case that a forgotten Cuban postman from 1904 is the world’s greatest role model.
For fans of the absurd, End of the World FM (Kevin Martin Murphy / Wandering Artist Collective) follows a lone radio host broadcasting into the void as he grapples with the end of days. Over in cabaret, Closure Cabaret (Maria Ansdell) sees lovelorn emcee Razmatastic bringing her exes to the stage for one last (unwilling) performance.
Dance & Physical Theatre Scotland’s lost percussive dance traditions take the spotlight in Deiseil: Dancing in Time (Alison Carlyle and Amy Geddes), a captivating blend of live fiddle, Gaelic song, and powerful movement directed by Gerry Mulgrew.
Award-winning Korean theatre company Theater Sangsangchangkko presents I Woke Up One Morning and Had Become AI, an exhilarating physical comedy about two brothers transformed into artificial intelligence.
Blending magic with personal storytelling, Hidden Powers (Angus Baskerville) offers a mind-blowing exploration of neurodiversity, while Sauna Boy (Dan Ireland-Reeves) delivers an unflinching and powerful drama based on real events inside a hidden world of sex, survival, and friendship.
Tickets for over 280 exciting Edinburgh Fringe shows are now on sale at www.theSpaceUK.com. With a programme that spans theatre, comedy, music, and dance, there’s something for everyone at this year’s fringe season.
The Space Venues Surgeon’s Hall, Grand Theatre 11th to 17th Aug 2:15pm 1hr 10 mins aged 14 plus
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Set in a hospice, One Sugar Stirred to the Left isn’t as grim as what it sounds. This is a clever and thoughtful written play that also has music. There is humour to be found, sometimes light, sometimes dark, in the conversations as well as poignancy and inevitable sadness, but that sadness comes with a certain amount of peace, which I wasn’t expecting. This is based on award-winning composer, Jon Lawrence’s own experiences and it transfers very well onto stage for all to see. The acting is brilliant by all the actors involved.
Bronwyn is a palliative care nurse and there’s an assistant who makes the tea and insists everyone has some, even though she is terrible at making it. There are a few laughs to be had at the misunderstandings. Underneath all that, there’s some wise, philosophical and are more useful than her tea as she helps Bronwyn through the challenging days of working as a palliative care nurse.
Bronwyn, meanwhile is taking care of Justin’s dad in his final days and is asked to produce songs from his book that tells a story of him and his wife and after years of it being stored from anyone else’s view, he now wants something done with it. She sings and writes music, but hasn’t in a while and this coaxes her into doing so.
There is also another man and his daughter, who talk about how things really were between them, before the end of his time.
This shows what a calm death look like. There’s also something quite inspirational in some of the lines between the 2 men as they converse.
It’s all thought-provoking and is sure to spark conversations around death, preparing for it as it opens the doors a bit into a world that isn’t often spoken about, unless you’re in this position. It provides a little corner of hope for the future, beyond someone’s death too, as well as seeing it.
The mix of humour and poignancy is greatly balanced, all wrapped with warmth and empathy.
Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows, 5:15pm (1hr) Aug 9-11, 13-18, 20-24
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Description
It’s time to believe in magic… Award-winning magician James Phelan, infamous for jamming the BBC switchboard after correctly predicting the lottery, returns with this ground-breaking new magic show. Touching on his parents’ 12 year struggle with IVF, The Dreamer is a celebration of the impossible becoming possible. With magic unparalleled elsewhere at Fringe, this show will leave you aching with laughter and dizzy in disbelief.
Review
In the rather colourful big top circus tent with fun decoration is where James Phelan, the magician could be found, where he encourages both adults and children alike to dream and use their imagination. What a joy this is. It feels a rather personal, engaging show on different levels as we get to know a bit of his magic background and a bit more than that about him as well as see tricks.
The show opens with information and photos of him being young and this is repeated at the end, but with sound, which was rather interesting.
The opening magic trick with cards was pretty amazing. No idea how he did it. He was engaged with the audience pretty well throughout, including a fun icebreaker as it were of cleverly building up the atmosphere, first collectively as a whole audience and then in sections. It got the audience in the mood for something entertaining and magical to happen. The show went on with funny results as he shown what the magical power of dreams and suggestion could do, especially with a few people selected from the audience, some with more imagination than others. The elements of psychology he uses in his magic when it comes to adult participation is interesting and makes increases some of the intrigue.
The finale of the big trick at the end, before cutting back to the screen was so beautiful and meaningful, that really touched my heart and would’ve liked more made of the lovely insect. I won’t say what it is because that would be spoiling it.
All in all, The Dreamer is an at times, thought-provoking, touching on the philosophical, entertaining and intriguing magic show for adults and children alike.
“We’re all dreamers” he said. I find that to be so true and he put it perfectly and beautifully.
I had brought a friend along who says he enjoyed the humour in the show as well as the magic. He found some of the storytelling through psychology good fun for families. He especially enjoyed the opening trick and had no idea how he did it with a lottery ticket. He thought the mention of past magicians like David Copperfield was a nice touch and felt it brave to have such a personal feeling show, which at that point, I have to agree.
In the rather colourful big top circus tent with fun decoration is where James Phelan, the magician could be found, where he encourages both adults and children alike to dream and use their imagination. What a joy this is.
Bookmarks and Stages by Lou 