Help! My girlfriend has dragged me to Edinburgh

When: 2nd-13th August, 15th-26th August at 10pm Where: Sweet Novotel (Venue 188) Ben's revuew: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was incredible and the best planned Improv I have seen in my years going to Edinburgh. Both performers worked incredibly well together and with the audience. A very good start to the fringe. The girlfriend's review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Really strong improvised comedy, one of structered improvised I have seen but done excellently. Eaton and Christuan had excellent chemistry and were very quickly k witted. The performance combined improvised sketches and songs taking suggestions from the audience. Both are very talented Eaton was an incredible comedy performer and Christian's vocal range was insane. Special mention to Christian for his stunning Evanescence inspired song "staple horse battery"

When: Every night at 8pm Where: Bar Bados Complex (Venue 32)  Ben's review: ⭐ Some would think that to do a show about history one would have a passing acquaintance with history itself. This is unfortunately not the case for this particular show. A sour taste is left in the mouth of any wannabe historian when relatively famous figures are misinterpreted or even at times entirely forgotten. Funny more for its failings than any intended punnery. The girlfriend's review:  ⭐ If you're going to do a show with this name then it is probably a good idea to make sure that your cast have some grasp of British history. I felt like I was watching children playing games, the acting was so awkward and weak. They were all weak singers (I was laughing in pain for my ears at some points). Don't waste your time on this one. 

When: August 1-13th, 15th-27th at 5pm Where: Assembly George Square studies (Venue 17) Ben's review: ⭐⭐⭐ Everyone wants to know what made Tom Riddle so bad... and now we know. There are so many ideas wound together in this that at times I forgot the plot. Taken as individual pieces though it is laugh out loud funny standout performances from Hagrid and Myrtle. The girlfriend's review: ⭐⭐⭐ Having thoroughly enjoyed "Thrones! The Musical" a few times over the years we thought we'd check out the company's newest addition. There were hilarious moments especially from Dumbledore. Special mentions should also go to Myrtle and Hagrid. Unfortunately, the plot was quite weak and a little too random for my liking... Did we really need a character obsessed with bread? I think this group works better with an existing plotline.

When: 18th-21st, 23-28th August at 13:35 Where: Assembly George Squart Studios (Venue 17) Ben's review: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 Really well developed storyline through the extreme difficulties of the business world. It's not just suits and sunshine. Very very funny and a really well polished performance. Some great monologues thrown in too. Very impressed. The Girlfriend's review: 🌟 🌟 🌟 A great piece of absurdist comedy which everyone that has ever worked in an office will able to relate to. The plot is quite limited but the actors work well with what they have been giving and all four deliver an engaging experience.

When: 18th-20th, 22nd-26th at 15:00 Where: Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows  (Venue 360) Ben's review: 🌟 🌟 This was a bit of a let down to be honest. Always chose to see one acrobatics piece a year and whilst the activities done in this piece were impressive it lacked a star quality that these types of performances need. There was no tying together of the acts in my opinion, not always needed but it helps. The opening made no sense and I didn't feel like the dance portion was particularly well rehearsed. It's good for younger ages maybe but not for the elder viewer The Girlfriend's review: 🌟 🌟 🌟 I can't deny that the cast were talented and did some impressive acrobatic tricks. However, the format of this show didn't quite work. The idea of it being the childrens' dream was unnecessary, all we got was a creepy projection of a man talking at the beginning. The very opening aside the first sequence was very impressive and high ener...

When: 20th-28th August at 22:15 Where: Underbelly, George Square (Venue 300) Ben's review: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 Absolutely love this show! The actors in this are brilliant and there quick wordplay was very very impressive. It has been running here for quite a long time as a concept and so has had more time to refine it's art the land the showtime variety and you can really see that. There's something art boutique Shakespeare and Alcohol that was just meant to be. The Girlfriend's review: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 I've never seen Romeo and Juliet end quite like this and I don't recall a dinosaur being in the original script. Back in the bard's day booze flowed quicker than water so I likr to think Shakespeare would love this! I laughed pretty much the whole way through. Last night's drunk was on top form, slurring his words, making lines up, going on about misogyny and trying to teach Juliet about bum sex. The cast are excellent at dealing with the drunk - ...

When: 18th-19th, 21st-26th August at 20:50 Where: Greenside at Nicolson Square (Venue 209) Ben's review: 🌟 🌟 🌟 This was really really interesting. Definitely makes you think about what the director is trying to get across without making any reading to be too inaccessible. To me it felt like a cross between inside out and Captain America: civil war. Their is a lot of violence and as with a lot of action movies there is only so many ways you can punch someone. But outside of these there are some truly beautiful moments. The Girlfriend's review: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 Great piece of physical theatre showing the struggle for the last innocent character to destroy evil. I feel this piece is open to interpretation and I saw it as a person's inner struggle to fight off darkness. This show is aesthetically very pleasing, a range of colour with a simplistic, yet creative set and a strong lighting design. The sequences were well choreographed, although it got a bit repetitive...