Jay Richardson

The Scotsman’s Edinburgh Fringe round-up reviews six comedy shows. Frankie McNair is praised for transforming experiences of child sexual abuse, trauma, addiction and neurodiversity into defiant, surreal stand-up. Amy Matthews offers a lively and reflective account of alexithymia, autism and learning to recognize unhealthy past relationships. Rob Kemp’s Beatlesjuice energetically combines Beetlejuice with Beatles songs, although technical problems weaken the horror staging. Sid Singh blends a story about dating a stalker with commentary on US immigration, human-rights work and male loneliness, donating half his takings to the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies. Cecily Hitchcock mines her eccentric upbringing and family life for surreal character comedy, while Rob Duncan’s chaotic experiment about anger, caregiving for a mother with dementia and despair is described as risky, heartbreaking and extraordinary.

Deacon Blue delivered an energetic, emotionally rich performance at Edinburgh Castle, blending classic hits with new material from The Great Western Road. Strong crowd reactions greeted fan favourites, while newer songs fit seamlessly into the set. The show balanced nostalgia, soulful influences, and tributes, underscoring the band’s enduring resonance and the socially conscious themes woven into their music.