Fringe diary 2025

I feel lazy for only a doing a week at the fringe this year. In previous years, Young Richards would do all three weeks, 8 shows a day, and barely notice it (apart from the 'shingles year'). I could still do that now, I reckon I'm in quite good shape but Aggie needed a holiday, and straight after that we had to attend the wedding of a close mate, and everything just seemed to land awkwardly in August. So here I am, just up for the final week, 8 days, 2 shows a day like the lazy part-timer I am. The shows were 'No Dreams' (which ran in Durham recently, as well as opening in France before that and a brief Cambridge run...it's a sleepy, slow little show and I was a bit worried about how it would go down in front of lively fringe audiences) and 'There's a Band Playing...' (my Leicester Comedy Festival show, which has also had runs at the Brighton and Bedford Fringes, as well as house shows etc - it's a loud show, booked for a central, loud room, I went into this pretty confident - it's a room I know well, it feels like the perfect booking). 

Right, here's what happened: 

DAY 1: Travel day, train from Cambridge to Stevenage, and then Stevenage to Edinburgh, with a lot of noisy percussion rattling around my bags. Lady sat next to me on the train was very lovely, we had a nice chat, I probably overshared. Got to Edinburgh, no time to check in as 'No Dreams' was set to open in an hour. Met the wonderful Lucy, who is performing the show after me, and she showed me the room and logistics of it. No audience. Sleepy Sunday, no promotion, venue quite far out of town. I didn't mind too much. Long walk...I mean, not too long, just over a mile, but felt long with all my heavy luggage, to my digs - fancy, overpriced student accommodation but I stay here every year and I love it, apart from the fact that it costs me over a grand a week to stay here. Reset for a moment, and then off to the Globe to launch 'Band Playing', but it's so quiet out there...week 3, especially on a Sunday, it usually is. My friends Eric and Maureen turned up, and it looked like I'd just be running the show to them, but then three young, rather posh, ladies turned up and I had a lovely show. Gentle, very informal, but lovely. Couple beers with Eric and Maureen afterwards before crashing out, it was a very early start after all.

DAY 2: Well rested. Nobody came to 'No Dreams' again, and I was starting to worry. But it is a Monday. Guest spot in PBH's flagship show which went well, my tight ten minutes is really tight these days. My old friend Tom came up, with his mate Jay; they're both filmmakers, making 'content' up here. They came to see 'Band Playing' and were half of the audience, the other half were an Australian couple who had no idea what it was but joined in anyway and were a treat to perform in front of. We drank too many beers afterwards at the Banshee Labyrinth, my favourite bar up here.

DAY 3: I was a contestant in my old pal Friz's popular gameshow, which great fun in front of a lively audience. 'Dreams' happened today for the first time, initially it looked like just Tom and Jay, but a sweet old couple turned up. Performance wasn't the best, what with it being the first time in 3 weeks I'd run it, just rushed in places, pacing was all out, but they got it. Evening performance of 'Band Playing' felt great, an old mate from Cambridge, Ian, turned up, and the audience were lively, one of whom had seen me in 2014 and made a point of coming back to one of my shows at some point. Best show of the run so far, very happy. A few of us then went to see the amazing Jazz Emu.

DAY 4: Morning guest spot in my mate Steve's poetry show, which I enjoyed a lot, his audience were totally my demographic and it was a breeze. Did a video interview for my friend Elise's online show about the fringe, and then had a wonderful 'Dreams' show in front of my biggest audience there yet. Performance was so much sharper, pacing was perfect, everything landed how it should do. Met up with my mate Chris for a quick pint, and then 'Band Playing' was rubbish tonight because the audience just felt restless. I only had six in, four of whom wanted to be there, but two who didn't, and it didn't work tonight, despite a healthy amount of cash in the bucket. Met up with Tom and Jay for a couple beers to end the evening but I was in a bad mood because of the show. 

DAY 5: With no guest spots today (there's plenty on offer, but this year I've decided to do only do spots in shows hosted by friends, so Steve, Peter and Friz), I enjoyed a lie-in, got some food, caught up on a little admin. Gently strolled up to my 'Dreams' show noticing how quiet it all is out there, only to have easily the best performance of the run so far. My dear friend Helen surprised me by turning up, even though I didn't even know she was in Edinburgh (she was there for a day) and I had a nice audience, one who cried at the end and there was just a sense in the room that I've really, really got this one right. I've always liked this play, even from when it opened in France back in February, but it hasn't always landed, but today everything was how it should be. Had a catch up drink with Helen before she went on her merry way, and then soon enough it was my evening show. 'Band Playing' was a real struggle tonight - four people in, and it's an audience participation show and they all sat on the back row, refusing to move forwards. The audience were two American ladies who randomly started having their own conversations, a lady who kept questioning EVERYTHING and her husband who was German and barely spoke a word of English. I took the show, microphone, percussion, everything to the back row and bumbled through a stressed version of it. They all gave plenty of cash at the end, but I hated every second of it. Met up with my old pal John for a 'quick pint', then Tom and Jay joined us and then the venue randomly turned into a karaoke bar and then suddenly it was 2am and we were still there. Unexpected fun, boozy evening in outstanding company. I refused to sing.

DAY 6: Hungover. I'm too old for this. Early start, guesting in Steve's show. Small audience today, I got through my 10 minutes but I think I was probably still drunk. Got back, had a nap, grumbled a bit. Three in for 'Dreams', I knew them all, it felt flat. Saw Lucy's show, I was the only attendee, it was great but features nudity (by her) and it did feel a little uncomfortable at times, possibly for both of us. Actually, she seemed fine with it. Good show, though. One person turned up to 'Band Playing' tonight, a young musician called Libby. Shouldn't have worked but really did, she was so onside throughout, I did the full, noisy version and had a great time, I think she did, too. Met up with friends to watch the brilliant 'Beatlesjuice'. I've got blisters on feet, losing my voice, it's all very fringe.  

DAY 7: It's a weird beast, the fringe, isn't it? This week, very much under the radar, low numbers for me and I've barely hit my stride. Whilst some may see it as a failure, I wasn't even in the 'big book' this year and had no promotion at all, so I've been using it as an excuse to try a few things out. What I'm trying to say is, next year I'll absolutely storm it and I know what shows I'm bringing up. We'll go big, next year. Nobody turned up to the play today so I went shopping instead, all I got was a bone for my dog, who I miss a lot. Got back to my little room and did some writing. Evening show, the last ever performance of 'Band Playing...' because in my head its totally run its course, was to the ever loyal Tom and Jay, plus three Germans. The noise bleed was horrible from the main bar as there was a football match on and the whole thing was a bit of a fight for survival. They...stuck with it. We all got through it together. I gave them some percussion as a thank you, and also because it means my suitcase is a bit lighter for the trip home tomorrow. My last night at the fringe, but had to pack for an early start tomorrow, so just the 'one' beer, which ended up being about four, but with good friends. I don't enjoy the Edinburgh Fringe on Saturday nights, it doesn't feel like the Edinburgh Fringe, just another loud, boozy city.

DAY 8: Final day! Already! I reckon next week I'll do all three weeks and my body will adjust. This year I've found the fact that everything seems to be uphill BOTH WAYS SOMEHOW quite tiring. Checked out, had a coffee with Elise, and then guested on Steve's poetry show for the final time. About 4 people watching that, but we all had a nice time regardless as he's a great host. Watched Friz's show and dragged myself and my luggage up to my final performance of the play. 2 in for that, a stranger called Sara, and my old friend Rik, who is a top comedian. It was lovely, and really worked. I've really found my feet with that play and will keep it going for a while yet. Ran to the train station, a bit of my journey was cancelled but could get to Peterborough at least, where Aggie could pick me up. Chatted to two lovely ladies on the train, happy enough. Aggie brought Freddie dog with her to greet me, which was glorious. I love the fringe but it's also rather nice to be home. 

It's been a busy summer, really busy, but need to get back to actual work soon. Spent the next day, a Bank Holiday Monday, clearing out our garage and generally decluttering. The amount of junk I've bought over the years that I'll never need. Could be a play in this...