Award winning Actor, Comedian and Writer Sara Pascoe graced the stage of Edinburgh University’s McEwan Hall with her sell-out show for, that’s right, one night only. It’s the first night of Fringe 2026 and there’s a hum of excitement bouncing around Bristo Square, where an anticipating queue snakes around the iconic McEwan Hall, ready to have a laugh. Pints in hand, jackets clutched closely as the sharp Edinburgh breeze whizzes through them.
Entering the venue provides welcome warmth from the wind as smiling ushers direct the audience into seats and fill the hall with undulating chatter. As the music diminishes and our collective gaze falls onto the empty stage, Pascoe introduces herself before swooping on stage, leaving her mic behind, and having to dash back for it. This sets the tone for the set. It feels less like a comedy gig, and more like watching your close friend tell a tipsy story after dinner. As Pascoe put it, this show is very ‘special, it has never happened before, and it will never happen again.’ It was a last-minute call from Underbelly Theatre, squeezing her into a free slot to open Fringe. She has a scattered energy as she jumps between themes, and while it isn’t her best set, Pascoe’s magnetic charm and erratic energy captures the audience entirely.
There’s something remarkably spontaneous about the whole thing, Pascoe lets slip her hotel room name while on an amusing tangent which teetered on the edge of a brag, before waltzing across the stage with the hotel room card on her head. Much of the set pandered more to Gen Xers and older, with Pascoe’s childhood stories from the 80’s leading into reflections of parenthood and marriage, all of which flew over younger audience member’s heads. Ending the night with a hilarious Hamlet rap ‘Fresh Prince of Denmark’, Pascoe swaggered up and down the stage clad in a mismatched costume composed of her husband’s shorts, an oversized shirt, a sweater vest, and a blue striped beanie. Just what Shakespeare envisioned. It’s a comically silly way to finish up, which she owned with style.
Reviewer: Ella Beckley
Reviewed: 5th August 2026
North West End UK Rating / Theatre Muse UK Rating:
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