20 must-see LGBTQ+ acts and comedians at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025
Some of the LGBTQ+ acts and comedians to see at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2025 (Provided, Getty, and Matt Crockett)
Some of the LGBTQ+ acts and comedians to see at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2025 (Provided, Getty, and Matt Crockett)
The annual Edinburgh Festival Fringe promises another year of queer comedic gold when LGBTQ+ acts arrive in Scotland.
The Fringe is the world’s largest performance arts festival, where thousands are set to showcase their talents between 1 to 25 August.
And for those specifically looking for queer talent, here are the acts to look out for.
Margolyes and Dickens: More Best Bits
Following a sold out show at the Fringe in 2024, 84-year-old Miriam Margolyes is back with what is sure to be another rip-roaring show. And after dismissing recent rumours that she was at “death’s door”, she’s clarified that she’s very much alive and “raring to go.”
We’re promised “more characters, more Dickens and more fascinating stories about the man behind the classics.” There’ll also be a free for all Q&A where no topic appears to be off the table. What could be better!?
You can buy tickets to see Miriam Margolyes here.
James Barr: Sorry I Hurt Your Son (Said My Ex to My Mum)
The host of A Gay and a Non-Gay returns to the Fringe for a show that is set to mix trauma with witty one liners, not the easiest feat, but one that James Barr has repeatedly proven he’s capable of.
Dealing in part with the subject of domestic abuse, this show comes with a trigger warning. But we know James and he’ll provide a show that has you laughing as well as thinking.
You can buy tickets to see James Barr here.
Sam Williams: Touch Me Not
Making his debut at the Edinburgh Fringe, Sam Williams, the self-proclaimed “patron saint of bisexuals”, comes highly recommended.
Described by BBC Radio 1’s Greg James as “a very funny man”, Williams has built up a strong following on social media and looks set to take off to further heights. You can read his recent article for PinkNews here.
You can buy tickets to see Sam Williams here.
The Fit Prince (who gets switched on the square in the frosty castle the night before [insert public holiday here])
The title of this one is a bit of a mouthful, but once you know it’s from Awkward Productions, it all makes sense.
Having already had two Fringe successes with the hilarious Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story and the equally bonkers Gwyneth Goes Skiing, Awkward Productions’ third Fringe outing is going to be a certified blast.
You can buy tickets to see Awkward Productions here.
Jonny Woo: Suburbia
One of the co-owners of The Divine, Johnny Woo brings his most personal work to date to Edinburgh, through the medium of spoken word and performance art.
Set to recount his life growing up in the Medway Towns and enjoying a hedonistic lifestyle in the 1990s, we can expect this master of cabaret to serve up a witty and colourful show.
You can buy tickets to see Jonny Woo here.
Glamrou: Drag Mother
The director and creator of Layla, Amrou will be taking to the Fringe stage as Glamrou, the renowned Iraqi queen.
In a show that features live musical performances, come and get lost in a “drag hall of mirrors.”
You can buy tickets to see Glamrou here.
No Apologies
Was Kurt Cobain trans? It’s a question at the heart of Emma Franklan’s show, No Apologies.
Taking an approach similar in style it would seem to Oh Mary!, No Apologies wilfully misremembers history and teaches us to be who we are.
You can buy tickets to see No Apologies here.
Lesbian Space Crime
This musical comedy from Airlock Theatre, in association with The Soho Theatre, follows an astronaut accused of a crime against her ex-wife.
This Offie-nominated comedy enjoyed a sold out run at The Soho Theatre so is likely to be a hot ticket.
You can buy tickets to see Lesbian Space Crime here.
Jordan Gray: Is That a C*ck in Your Pocket, or Are You Just Here to Kill Me?
An Edinburgh Fringe Best Show nominee in 2022, Jordan Gray is back again. And this time she’s bringing her “rootin-est, tootin-est, shootin-est hour of musical comedy yet.”
The BAFTA-winning star has attracted a fair amount of attention in the last few years and this will be a great opportunity to check in. We just wonder, will the clothes be coming off?
You can buy tickets to see Jordan Gray here.
Mary O’Connell: Dilly Dally
You might have seen Mary O’Connell on Comedy Central, but now you can see her in person in her new show discussing family, relationships, and growing up.
If you’ve ever wanted to find out about living with your family and your boyfriend all in one house, this is the show for you.
You can buy tickets to see Mary O’Connell here.
Mark T Cox: Paddy Daddy
The “very famous international cabaret star” returns with a new set all about the wonders and trials of gay life in real Ireland.
One half of the presenting duo behind Your Internet Boyfriends, expect plenty of filth, comedy, and tunes.
You can buy tickets to see Mark T Cox here.
Midnight at the Palace
There’s no shortage of musical comedy material at the Edinburgh Fringe this year, and here’s another to add to the list.
Following a bunch of gender-bending hippies on their mission to spread peace, this show features music and lyrics by Brandon James Gwinn and book by Rae Binstock.
You can buy tickets to see Midnight at the Palace here.
Lachlan Werner: WonderTwunk
Reviving the art of the ventriloquist, Lachlan Werner’s debut solo show Voices Of Evil was a sell out at The Soho Theatre and Finge in 2023.
Now the clown and live artist returns with a new show, described as being “hilarious”, “extraordinary” and “a must see.”
You can buy tickets to see Lachlan Werner here.
Club NVRLND
This brand new jukebox musical takes the classic characters of Peter Pan and brings them firmly into the 21st Century.
With a soundtrack featuring the likes of Britney Spears, Katy Perry, and Justin Timberlake and a book by Olivier-nominated Jack Holden, Club NVRLND is going to be jumping.
You can buy tickets to see Club NVRLND here.
The Golden Wrath
In The Golden Wrath Desiree Burch, the voice of Netflix’s Too Hot To Handle and Live at the Apollo, tackles important issues like menopause as well as death and nationality.
Funny, candid, and everything in between, Burch promises a laugh out loud show ahead of a UK tour in 2026.
You can buy tickets to see The Golden Wrath here.
Ted Milligan: United
The winner of Leicester Square Sketch Off 2024 Ted Milligan brings his brand of character comedy to the Fringe with a new show exploring the trials and tribulation software the fictional Crubchester United Football Club.
Presenting it as a live mockumentary, Milligan is bringing something different to the festival.
You can buy tickets to see Ted Milligan here.
I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar
The Chesterfield-born comedian and musician, Holly Redford Jones, celebrates queer women in her show headed to the Fringe.
The show has earned her the Best Stand Up Comedy and Runner Up of Best LGBTQ+ Production at the Greater Manchester Fringe 2024.
You can buy tickets to see Holly Redford Jones here.
Homo(sapien)
The Fringe is an impressive arena to showcase your debut play, which is exactly what the Irish performer Conor O’Dwyer is doing with Homo(sapien)
This charming-sound coming of age story of man trying to overcome his fears – and have sex.
You can buy tickets to see Homo(sapien) here.
Sam Nicoresti: Baby Doomer
This nominee for Best Show at the 2025 Leicester Comedy Festival and LSQ Theatre New Comedian winner is also the brains behind the viral YouTube special, Wokeflake.
Now they’re back with a new stand up show “about losing your mind, finding it again and the hunt for the perfect skirt suit.” Sounds a hoot!
You can buy tickets to see Sam Nicoresti here.
A Drag is Born
In this exciting performance Edu Díaz blends clown, drag and queer joy as he discovers it’s never too late to become your truest self.
Called a “whimsical tour de force” by Orlando Weekly, the show follows an ordinary man as he finds himself magically transformed into the unlikely older, hairy, and talent-challenged Queen of the Carnival.
You can buy tickets to see Edu Díaz here.
