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On Tuesday 5 August 2025, the Edinburgh Fringe continued to brim with comedy shows that cut deep, surprise, and thoughtfully play with form. Here’s what’s grabbing critics’ attention and building buzz.

Noteworthy Reviews from Today

  • Cat Cohen – Broad Strokes (Pleasance Courtyard)
    Cohen returns triumphantly after a health scare, using her wry millennial persona to navigate recovery and stress. The show fuses stand‑up and musical segments, with character voices and emotional transparency that land consistently.
    → The Guardian review

  • Palestine: Peace de Resistance (Pleasance Dome)
    Sami Abu Wardeh blends historical storytelling, puppetry, anti‑colonial satire, and personal memories to craft a clown‑inflected show that resists easy categorisation—boldly comedic yet politically charged.
    → The Guardian review

  • Philosophy of the World (Summerhall)
    An intentionally chaotic and anarchic take on cult band The Shaggs. Its disordered, raw energy seems entirely the point—humour that disrupts and defies structure.
    → The Guardian review

Big Talent & Preview Highlights

  • Looking Ahead:
    The Guardian’s 20 Golden Comedy Shows preview includes heavy hitters like Desiree Burch (The Golden Wrath), Ahir Shah, Bridget Christie, Lorna Rose Treen, Jazz Emu, Tim Key, Michelle Wolf, and more—indicative of the wide stylistic range and talent pool this year.
    → Guardian preview

Special Mentions from The Times

  • Best Comedy Shows to See: Highlights include deeply personal, striking performers like Tadiwa Mahlunge, Liam Withnail, Elouise Eftos, backed by veterans like Tim Key, Michelle Wolf, Hal Cruttenden, and more.
    → The Times roundup

  • Best Fringe Jokes So Far: Olaf Falafel, Stuart Laws, Adele Cliff, Johnny Pelham, and Marc Jennings among the wittiest line‑makers of 2025.
    → The Times jokes list

What to Watch Tonight

  • Emotional & Musical Comedy like Broad Strokes pushes boundaries of tone and storytelling.
  • Political‑theatrical comedy like Palestine: Peace de Resistance highlights storytelling as activism.
  • Radical absurdity, exemplified by Philosophy of the World, proves form itself can be comedic fuel.
  • Previewed names from Guardian and Times suggest the rest of the week will continue to deliver both surprises and savagely smart stand‑up.

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