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Neurodiversity rules at the Edinburgh Fringe. Here’s just ten of the many shows built around the topic. 

1 Joe Wells: Daddy Autism

Initially a political comedian, after lockdown Joe Wells (pictured) turned to a more personal style of comedy, focussing on his autism… although a little bit of politics has a tendency to sneak in as he’s brought up the likes of representation and the fight for autistic rights in previous shows. This one’s about him wanting to become a father, and odds are his child will have the same condition. So all he needs to do is solve ableism before the birth…

PBH's Free Fringe @ Banshee Labyrinth, 12:00 

2.  Josephine Lacey: Autism Mama

This seems to be the obvious companion piece to the above as the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year finalist talks about helping her autistic son through puberty, and all the confusing changes that involves.  

Pleasance Courtyard, 6pm

3 Stuart Laws Has to Be Joking?

Festival favourite Stuart Laws – who’s also behind the Turtle Canyon production company that makes a lot of filmed comedy content – built up a reputation for silly shows. But last year he started telling the truth on stage, tying with him being diagnosed autistic, which both seemed to be to the benefit of his work, attracting rave reviews (like this one). Now, he says, he’s ‘stuck with that grotesque reality’ for this follow-up.

Monkey Barrel Comedy at The Hive , 4.45pm

4.  Alex Mitchell: Tics Towards Perfection

Yesterday the Britain’s Got Talent finalist – who has autism as well as a functional neurological disorder that gives him Tourettic-style tics – announced his first UK tour, thanks to his success on the ITV talent show. But before he hits the road he has this run in an intimate Edinburgh venue to work up the show…

Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 4.45pm

5. Edy Hurst's Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches  In The Countie Of Himself

Edy Hurst epitomised the rickety low-budget Fringe epic with his take on War Of The Worlds in 2022, with a title so long it doesn’t bear repeating, This follow-up covers everything from witch trials to the Vengaboys as the comic, who had a late-stage ADHD diagnosis, seeks explanations for why he doesn’t fit in. It’s been directed by comic Joz Norris.
Assembly George Square, 4.20pm

6. Queer Tales For Autistic Folk

Norris also worked with Cerys Bradley to create this interactive choose-your-own-adventure type story linking neurodiversity to Welsh folk myths.

Hootenannies @ Potterrow, 4.55pm, August 5 to 12 only

7 Will Davies: Wrongs

Dry and deadpan, but with strong joke-writing skills, Fringe  newcomer Will Davies was diagnosed with autism at the age of 35. In his 40-minute debut, he starts from the phrase ‘two wrong don’t make right’ to see juts how many wrongs  - specifically things wrong with him – it might take. 

Just The Tonic At The Caves, 11.40am

8. Lady ADHD

Well-established New York comedian Blaire Postman devised this one-woman flipchart-heavy show about living the first 35 years of her life with undiagnosed, and then undertreated, ADHD back in 2011 and now brings it to Edinburgh for the first time.

TheSpace On The Mile, 1.3pm, August 2 to 17

9 Graham Kay: Pete and Me

Visiting Canadian comic Graham Kay - a former breakout award winner at the Canadian comedy award –   about growing up with a profoundly autistic brother in this show, exploring their relationship from childhood through to today.
Gilded Balloon Patter House, 6.20pm

Similarly, Caroline McEvoy talks about growing in Northern Ireland with an autistic brother in her 45-minute show, Glass Child, at Just the Tonic at The Mash House at 2.40pm from August 19 to 25.

10. Mark Nicholas: This Is Not the Autistic You Are Looking For

Mark Nicholas runs Laugh-Able, a mixed bill comedy event in Ilford, East London, that gives a platform to comedians with disabilities and is part of the Blue Badge Bunch disabled-led game show. Here he talks about his autism, which deos not mean he can count cards or do maths...  

Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 3.30pm, August 14 to 25

Published: 24 Jul 2024