In the midst of Old Town, Cabaret Voltaire’s arched basement under Blair Street is full of a crowd eagerly watching Rosco McClelland, spotlit on stage. You could hear a pin drop with the patient wait for the punch line.
McClelland is a storyteller, every joke recounts a guilty pleasure, an embarrassing story or even identifying the man who apparently wants him dead. Convoluted stories of his marriage complete with heartwarming moments and arguments both had the audience listening attentively, all for the reward of one-line laughs. McClelland’s charisma and charm keep the audience hooked on his line, reeling them in with an assortment of confessions and an open ‘this is me, bones and all’ kind of attitude with the audience. McLelland gives himself to the audience completely.
His personable approach lets McClelland get away with all sorts of humour, he had the audience cackling at Michael Jackson’s guilt and even got a round of applause for recounting the moment he filled a soup ladle with his Jack Russel’s piss. At times it was impossible to tell whether the audience were laughing with the man or squirming out of pure shock, horror, and delighted disgust at the stories he had to tell.
Although the cosy venue added atmosphere, the guttural screams coming from the venue next door stole McClelland’s thunder a couple times and in moments drowned him out entirely for members of the audience at the back. That is part of the atmosphere of Fringe that must be accepted though, with venues hosting multiple shows at once it’s inevitable that sound will travel across stages. It sounds like whatever was showing in the next room was a pretty good laugh too.
Showing at CabVol1 at Monkey Barrel Comedy, The Bones runs until 30th August 2026 and tickets can be found at https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/rosco-mcclelland-the-bones
Reviewer: Ella Beckley
Reviewed: 18th August 2026
North West End UK / Theatre Muse UK Rating: