The 2022 Edinburgh Fringe will run from 05 to 29 August and it’s said that Edinburgh’s population doubles as the famous festival (the largest arts festival in the world) descends upon its streets and venues. After years of providing our own recommendations to guests and visitors, here are some of our top Fringe tried and tested favourites that’ll be returning for another year in 2022.
Great returning acts for Edinburgh’s 2022 Fringe Festival
1. Darkfield – Eulogy, Flight, & Séance
Darkfield are the internationally famed storage container immersive experience group, terrifying and intriguing the audiences of Edinburgh since 2017. Their first performance, Séance, transformed the interior of a 24ft container into a Victorian séance room, plunging visitors into complete darkness for a 20min exploration. Round two, Flight, saw ticket holders enter an exact Airbus 320 cabin replica with two outcomes – land safely … or don’t. They describe their newest addition, Eulogy, as “ .. a surreal journey through a dreamlike, labyrinthine hotel that exists entirely in your mind.”
2. Foil Arms and Hog
This cheeky trio have been labelled “Ireland’s top comedy sketch group”, boasting over 500 million online views and delighting Fringe goers with fast-paced performances made up of unpredictable hilarity and clever characters. These gentlemen have been attending Edinburgh’s famous festival for years, and recently secured the title, “Best-reviewed show at the Edinburgh Fringe.”
3. Unfortunate: The untold story of Ursula the sea witch
Love Wicked? If so, be sure to catch this radical twist on The Little Mermaid. The musical parody first graced Edinburgh’s Fringe in 2019, but this year its staging has had a full overhaul/upgrade and is set to be performed inside the Underbelly’s famous upside-down cow.
4. David o’Doherty
Despite the odd swear word, there’s something quite wholesome about David o’Doherty’s keyboard comedy. A regular on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and BBC’s Live at the Apollo, David will be returning to Edinburgh (along with his bike and 1985 plastic keyboard) for an hour of comedy song.
5. Spank
Spank has been performing at The Fringe for 20 incredible years, but this one will be its last! This late night (adult) Cabaret in a cave is a fun way to see a selection of the wildest performers at the festival. Be prepared for the odd bit of nudity and plenty of bad language.
6. Abandoman aka Rob Broderick
Ireland is perhaps not the first place you’d look for a hip-hop musical comedian, but Rob Broderick has an incredible ability to craft songs on the spot, plucking ideas and prompts from the audience in a side-splitting improvisation performance. One of the most fascinating parts of the act is watching him drop new lyrics whilst encouraging the audience to shout out ideas for the next line – a true talent.
7. Shlomo the Beatboxer
One for the kids, and the adults! As well as a deeper evening adults show, music producer and live looping technologist Shlomo is bringing a lunchtime Beatbox Adventure for Kids in 2022. Following work with Icelandic singer Bjork and Ed Sheeran (to name only a few), being nominated for a Grammy, and putting together the world’s first beatboxing choir, both his adult and kids shows deal with identity and questions of anti-racism and antisemitism.
8. Best of the Fest
It’s 12am and you’ve been out watching shows all evening, but the fun doesn’t need to end here. Like Spank, Best of the Fest gives visitors the opportunity to preview a mix of different performers every night, though this act tends to see a strong mix of some of the festivals’ biggest names. Regular attendees include David o’Doherty, Jason Byrne, Desiree Burch, Tom Allen, and Phoebe Robinson.
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