Review: Fast Fringe at Leicester Square Theatre ★★★★
This bumper London edition of Edinburgh treat Fast Fringe is a wham-bam parade of quick-as-lightning stand up, sketches and musical comedy. The night is the perfect fringe megamix of three-minute wonders, perfect for those with goldfish-like attention spans.
Fast Fringe | 2-26 August 2023 | Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh | From £5
Arthur Smith hosted this London special of Fast Fringe with a caustic yet indefatigable wit, which kept us giggling throughout a bumper-sized yet swift parade of comedy acts. Fast Fringe is funny on Fast Forward: the compilation format is a perfect way to discover new acts and really delve into the spirit of fringe comedy in all its wondrous variety!
John Tothill stole the show at this London showcase, with quick wit and maximum camp lovability, alongside the welcome return of Smack the Pony’s fabulous Fiona Allen. Surreal turns arrived from Lorna Rose Treen‘s bonkers Brownie girl guide, and Lachlan Werner‘s devilishly silly ventriloquist act. A shout out for Bronwyn Sweeney, too, a super smart comedian to look out for at this year’s fringe.
Other strong up-and-coming performers that stood out for us included cheeky Aaron Simmons, refreshingly working class comic Elliot Steel, and the fresh wit of Mamoun Elagab.
Fast Fringe is a great night of comedy – and the Edinburgh Fringe shows will be an unmissable treat if you have little time in the Scottish capital!
I am Joint Editor at To Do List. I like free, cheap & offbeat London, especially: cabaret, art, theatre, pop-ups, eating out, quirky films, museums, day trips, social enterprise & much more.
