Playface's Brighton Fringe Recommendations - 2025

May is approaching which means it's time for Brighton Fringe! This is a fun Fringe that's an excuse to spend some time by the seaside with some good vibes. Scrolling through endless lists of shows can be a bit daunting so we've put together our recommendations based on what performers we've seen before and who we've heard great things about. Check them out and let us know who you loved seeing! Please note the below description are a mix of our words and show bios.

What and who to see:

Acaprov: The Improvised A Cappella Musical on 2nd - 5th May

Imagine a new kind of musical: beatboxers, rappers, actors, singers, dancers and body percussionists coming together completely a cappella to improvise a fresh, heart-warming show, that you’ll never forget.

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen on 3rd - 5th & 24th - 26th May

Families assemble! This is a super fantastically amazingly incredible show. (We may be bias because we're occasional cast members). The Extraordinary Time-Travelling Adventures of Baron Munchausen is a multi award winning, family friendly, improvised storytelling show. There will be pirates and princesses, unicorns and dragons, spacemen and swordfights, and all of it completely and irrefutably true.

Josh Invain: Affirmation (Work In Progress) on 8th - 11th May

We're big fans of Josh from our days of Modern Art! They think the show is an exploration of identity and how sometimes the only way to affirm who you are is by getting the help of a room of strangers.

Isabelle Glinn on Ice on 11th & 31st May

A surreal musical comedy show about competitive figure skating. Isabelle's a fantastic performer who you may have seen in ‘CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation’ and ‘Notflix the Improvised Musical’.

This Can't Be It on 11th & 24th May

This Can’t Be It is an experimental comedy show about trying—and failing—to make sense of it all. Loz Dodd believes he’s creating something monumental. He might be wrong, but that won’t stop him from throwing himself headfirst into chaos, weaving together song, dance, spoken word, and a meandering stand-up routine about having hands.

3 Minutes Inside My Brain on 13th & 14th May

Get ready to be shrunk down and taken on a whirlwind adventure inside Jennifer’s brain. It’s weird in there - but probably also familiar. Explore the wonders of our wrinkly grey matter through very real facts, very cute puppets, and a very scientific ball pit.

King of More: Veza on 15th & 16th May

There is a secret connection between people. What is it? Where is it? What colour is it? Find out what ‘Veza’ is through Bosnian and Serbian music, interactions, dance, laughter, tears, science, ancestors and interdimensional wool.

John Robertson: PLAYS WITH THE AUDIENCE (Work In Progress) on 16th May

John's previous show was an unmissable part of Edinburgh Fringe - best known for his anarchic crowd work, joyous obscenity and geeky ranting. Now he's back with a rare scripted stand-up set.

Dick Day: A Hairy Fairy Boy on 21st & 22nd May

Brace yourself for a wildly nostalgic and hilarious ride through Dick Days youth. Dick has plenty to share; from embarrassing confessions, unhinged behaviour and a few terrible choices. Prepare to be entertained through comedic tangents, toe-tapping tunes, jazz hands and some questionable percussion.

Helen Bauer Work In Progress - 21st & 22nd May

We saw a version of this a few weeks ago and it was very chaotically funny! Helen Bauer has some very messy ideas of her thoughts and feelings on pretty much everything!

Happily Never After on 22nd - 24th May

We'll never tire of seeing this show - it's incredible (it's also improvised so it's different every time!) The Maydays return to the Fringe with their 5-star improvised show – Happily Never After – a ‘darkly comedic’ twisted musical tale inspired by gothic themes, fairytales, and the warped imaginations that brought us Lemony Snicket, Beetlejuice, Shockheaded Peter and Grimm's Tales.

Siblings: Dreams in Progress on 23rd May

Critically acclaimed character comedians and IRL Sisters, Maddy and Marina Bye (Byes) have spent the last two years asleep dreaming up inventions.. about dreams.. and inventions. Finally, they arise from the ashes, the research is complete and you get the first glimpse into their concocted creation. Time to set your alarms to see Siblings swoop you into the surreal world of your own sleepy mind as they crack open skulls and backflip in.

Lachlan Werner: WonderTwunk (Work In Progress) on 23rd May

The strength of a hundred Olympians. The face of an angel. Behind this curtain lies a brand new model of manhood for a modern age.

Lorna Rose Treen (Work In Progress) (it's set in a diner) on 25th May

Her last show was incredible. Get yourself ready for some fab character comedy! Award-winning, comedy-killing (The Sun), former-Cadbury World-working character comedian Lorna Rose Treen is making a new show. This one is set in a diner.

Stranded on 29th & 30th May

Liam and Tom have great chemistry and create very fun shows! This one is based on a school drama group being stranded on a desert island. The only adult survivors of the crash, Matt and his teaching assistant Julian, keep the group's spirits up with improv games and stories. However, while Matt and the children look for ways to escape the island, Julian is relishing his newfound status as the leader of the survivors...

Baba on 30th & 31st May

Did you know Baba means wise old woman in Romanian, father in Arabic and baba ghanoush wasn’t always made with mayo?? Me neither! Halima's appears on stage at Modern Art and brings a playfully mysterious clown energy!

Caitlin Cook: The Writing on the Stall on 31st May & 1st June

This show is a musical about bathroom graffiti. We saw an early version of this a few years ago in Edinburgh and were giggling along to the catchy songs. This is a show for comedy nerds, musical theatre kids, art history buffs, and anyone who’s ever seen something written in a bathroom and thought, “I wonder who wrote that?”

What are your recommendations? Let us know in the comments!