James Doherty II
- May 29
- 4 min read

A Common Show Topic of Edinburgh Fringe 2024 Is...

Updated: Jun 13

Each Edinburgh Fringe, you will see a recurring theme in show titles and descriptions. For 2023, it was turning 30 and bisexuality. 2024's is 🥁🥁🥁:

ADHD.

There are over 15 shows this year directly discussing life with ADHD.

Here are a few at Edinburgh Fringe 2024 that sound interesting:

Character Flaw

Philippa Dawson is back with her show "Character Flaw" which received rave reviews at Edinburgh Fringe 2023. From the description: "Colourful explosions pop in this hilarious exploration of ADHD and queer identity. A plethora of eye-opening topics and hysterical anecdotes leave the audience educated, moved and highly entertained." Jul 31 Aug 1-11, 13-26

Underbelly, Bristo Square - Clover

14:25 - 15:25

Lady ADHD

a woman sitting screaming in an all black outfit wrapped in red string

You know when you dub yourself Lady ADHD, you have a lot to say about it. Her official website is also ADHDComedy.com, so she knows her stuff. From the description: "Hop on this daring, immersive, real-time dopamine chase, tracing how Blaire Postman’s unique comedy bits (fueled by a rollercoaster of flipchart rabbit-holes) at first revealed to her the unexpected connections of life’s intricacies, then panned out further to expose the true nature of her own brain." They say AI is coming for us all, but they cannot beat Fringe performers describing their own shows.

Aug 2-10

theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall - Haldane Theatre

10:15 - 11:10 Aug 12-17 theSpace on the Mile - Space 1 13:35 - 14:30

Why Am I (Still) Like This?

Nicole Nadler is back from last year's "Why Am I Like This?" with "Why Am I (Still) Like This?" Is it different? I'm not exactly sure. However, I couldn't see it last year, so I will still check it out! Additionally, there are online and in-person viewing options!

From the description: "At 30, Nicole finally found out why she was like this (spoiler: it's ADHD), but four years and one diagnosis later... it doesn't feel like much has changed. Why doesn't she have her life together already?"

ONLINE On Demand - From Aug 2 Aug 2-10, 12-24

theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall - Stephenson Theatre

18:10 - 18:55

Ruby Carr: eBae

One piece of Fringe theatre I LOVE is deep dives into the weirdness of the internet together with a slide show. We all know eBay has some weird stuff, but it looks like Ruby went full Alice down the rabbit hole to find the real goodies. From the description: "Deep dive into the weird wonderful world of eBay. I'm obsessed with the thrill of an auction, it's like shopping – but with a winner. I have bought it all. Is this because I'm a sucker for a good deal? A good story? Or is it my obsessive-compulsive disorder combined with my ADHD? You decide!"

Jul 31 Aug 1-11, 13-26 Underbelly, George Square - The Wee Coo

19:20 - 20:20

River Time!

This show sounds like it could be totally hilarious or get old a little fast. I'm aiming for the former! I am always for Scottish talent like lead and writer Laura Thurlow so I am ready for this one!

From the description: "Virginia Woolf, Ophelia and ADHD. Rejection sensitivity and the siren call of the sea. When times get tough, sometimes a gal just needs to take some River Time."

Aug 2-10, 12-17, 19-24

Greenside @ Riddles Court - Pickle Studio

13:45 - 14:35

Pillock

a man soaking wet eating ashes out of an urn

I mean, using a man about to eat ashes like cereal as a show poster is BOLD. You know you're about to hop into a real deal experience. From the description: "Pillock has ADHD. His brain works faster than his bowel when he's had a Babybel. And he's lactose intolerant. He's trying to keep his head above water, but he's drowning in loneliness, hook-up culture and medical role plays."

Aug 1-25 Assembly Rooms - Front Room

18:25 - 19:25

Naughty or Neurodiverse – Magic from Another Planet

a magician throwing a deck of cards in the air

The others on this list are one-person shows or comedy shows, but here we have a magician! Magic is a cornerstone of Fringe, and I love seeing this combo. Angus Baskerville is here to show ADHD and Autism may be his superpower along with magic. From the description: "Mind-reading and unbelievable trickery abound in this exploration of how autism and magic make anything possible, with rising star Angus Baskerville. Angus was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD at age 15, and his school years were a struggle. But, learning and performing magic has turned his life around and his first solo show at the Fringe delves into that journey."

Aug 02-10 - 15:20 - 16:10

Aug 12-17 - 15:50 - 16:40

Aug 19-24 - 15:05 - 15:55

theSpace on the Mile - Space 2

Is There Work on Mars?

a woman looking at her ID card while four tvs with images of Elon Musk are in the background

Chinese performer Yafei Zheng is looking to the future of billionaires pushing their money into space rather than keeping it here on Earth. Will these billionaires suddenly decide if we are useful in society?

From the description:

"Can an Asian with ADHD and dyscalculia pass Elon Musk's Mars immigration test?"

Aug 12-17 theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall - Theatre 1 10:45 - 11:25

Aug 19-24 theSpace on the Mile - Space 1 21:50 - 22:30