The Recs 2025 Top Ten Favourite Edinburgh Fringe Shows

The Recs’ Review Team choose their personal favourite shows that encapsulate Edinburgh Fringe 2025!

(in alphabetical order)

ARTHUR HULL'S FLOP!

SCD: The Recs was the first site to champion Flop! ahead of The Fringe and Arthur did not disappoint. We even got past our hair envy (just). He earned rave reviews throughout this Fringe and if this show doesn’t transfer post-Fringe then something is wrong with the world!

Cornermen

SCD: This show felt to me like that very rare thing – a true Fringe show – low budget, passionate performances and real emotion meant it punched above its weight

Eli Matthewson: Night Terror

JM: Musings on all things queer, delivered with a side order of domestic drama … and a healthy dose of s(n)ide lines. What’s not to recommend?

Footballers' Wives The Musical

SCD: Was obsessed with the show before Edinburgh, saw it twice and am still obsessed with it. The songs just stick, like 5 stars to a poster!

Hole!

RDC: Witty and clever, this is the perfect example of a show that sounds like it could be really terrible but ends up being an unqualified triumph.

Jodie Sloan: Is She Hot?

JM: Don’t be fooled, like I was, by the cutesy Canadian performer with the ukulele: this is comedy that comes with an emotional gut punch

Macbeth (The Barden Party)

RDC: This wildly creative bluegrass take on the Scottish play hails all the way from New Zealand; thank you Laura Irish and The Barden Party for making the trek to Scotland.  

Ordinary Decent Criminal

CB: Mark Thomas and Ed Edwards once again deliver a dramatic tour-de-force, which shines a socio-political light on prison life, with an ending that no one will see coming.

Tamsyn Kelly: Hot Titty Bungalow

CB: A youthful comedian with the timing and delivery of a circuit veteran, whose star is definitely on the rise.

The Fit Prince

SCD: As long, looooong term supporters of Awkward Prods, this felt as if it could be a leap. Instead it was a triumph. Also, Happy Fringe Wedding to Linus and Joseph!

We’ve covered more #Edfringe shows than ever before this year – see them all HERE – and I’d like to thank James, Chris, Randall David and Rebecca – our amazing Recs’ team In Edinburgh 2025. Also a shout out to all the PRs and shows who have been brilliant in supplying info, images and kind words. Thanks to all who took part in The Recs Edfringe Podcast Specials – HERE. And lastly cheers to Sorcha Judge and her excellent Fringe Media Team who have been so supportive of The Recs. 

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The Recs SCD - Steve Coats-Dennis