The Best Free & PWYW Shows at Edinburgh Fringe 2018

The Edinburgh Fringe can be an expensive business for performers and audiences alike, but the last few years have seen a renaissance of free shows – from the likes of PBH Free Fringe and Laughing Horse's Free Festival – and the emergence of pay-what-you-want shows promoted by groups like Bob Slayer's Heroes.

Here is a collection of the best free and PWYW shows at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe, as reviewed by our team of Fringe reviewers. Scroll on to read more, or click here to find our overall guide to this year's best Fringe shows.

Ahir Shah: Duffer (★★★★★)

Ahir Shah follows the Edinburgh Comedy Award-nominated Control with another phenomenal hour of stand-up

We said: "It’s a show that really connects: Duffer is accessible, tender and considerably less guilt-inducing than similarly passionate and rousing Edinburgh shows."

Laughing Horse, Cabaret Voltaire (Main Room), 2-26 Aug, 2.15pm, Free 

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Jen Brister: Meaningless (★★★★)

A lunchtime show with Jen Brister is better than lunch with mum

We said: "Meaningless is an hour of sound and fury, perfectly capturing the exaggeration of our internal frustrations and all those pent-up resentments our family members have an uncanny ability to unlock."

Monkey Barrel Comedy Club (Room One), until 26 Aug, 1:45pm, £5/PWYW - buy tickets here

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Clay Nikiforuk: Fun to be Around (★★★★)

Fun to be Around is a well crafted, intelligent take on mental illness awareness

We said: "There will be many shows that talk about mental illness, but few will be devised as confidently and as well thought out as Nikiforuk’s."

Just the Tonic @ The Grassmarket Centre, until 26 Aug, 5.50pm, £7/PWYW - buy tickets here

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Richard Hanrahan is doing this (★★★★)

Richard Hanrahan keeps an ambitious show in perpetual motion

We said: "This is a show that will never be the same twice. With a sizeable audience, Hanrahan becomes a lecturer in a tech-heavy production, who is regurgitating his findings."

Just the Tonic, The Grassmarket Centre, 2-26 Aug (not 13), 8.30pm, £4-5/PWYW - buy tickets here

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Henry Paker: Man Alive (★★★★)

Cartoons and quips as strong as each other from Henry Paker

We said: "A quirky, touching piece of comedy, clever enough to work on a number of levels and which will leave audience members each with a different favourite moment." 

PBH Free Fringe, Banshee Labyrinth (Chamber Room), 4-26 Aug (not 6, 13 & 19), 5.10pm, Free

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Sean Morley: I Apologise for my Recent Behaviour (★★★★)

A fulfilling and uncompromisingly gleeful hour of comedy

We said: "Morley expertly guides a reluctant crowd through a maze of desired responses, often triggered and prompted by his own underwhelming on-stage antics."

Heroes, Dragonfly, 2-26 Aug (not 8 & 22), 7:20pm, £5/PWYW - buy tickets here

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Madame Señorita: QUEST!ON (★★★★)

Paula Valluerca shows that clowning around can be lots of fun

We said: "Paula Valluerca's creation is innately funny. All bright-eyed and Jaws-like open-mouthed, she captivates the room; even if it’s through fear of what she might do next." 

Black Medicine (Basement), 3-27 Aug (not 14), 9:30pm, £5/PWYW - buy tickets here

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Stephen Bailey: Our Kid (★★★★)

An hour of cheek, warmth and charisma – Stephen Bailey is on top form

We said: "Our Kid is less concerned with current affairs and more with identity, feelings of self-doubt and imposter syndrome."

Laughing Horse, The Free Sisters (Maggie's Front Room), 2-26 Aug, 5:15pm, Free - buy tickets here 

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Mat Ewins: What Sorry? My Mistake! The Doors Are Not Open... (★★★★)

Quickfire merriment from multimedia master Mat Ewins

We said: "Flooded with jokes, the survivors emerge almost battle-scarred from Ewins' latest show."

Just the Tonic @ The Mash House, 2-26 Aug, 8.50pm, £5/PWYW – buy tickets here

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Rob Auton: The Talk Show (★★★★)

A different kind of Talk Show from the eloquent and observant poet

We said: "Auton fashions laughs from the mundane and surreal alike. If you’re exhausted with the shrill white noise of stand-up, go laugh at some poetry."

Just the Tonic @ The Caves (Fancy Room) 2-26 Aug (not 13), 6.10pm, £5/PWYW – buy tickets here

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Jack Barry: Tango (★★★★)

Jack Barry’s Tango is a show unapologetically about sex

We said: "The tone of the show is kept light so that there is minimal discomfort (despite the odd occasion where he jumps from light and informal to intense an outrageous in a way that shocks the audience into laughter)."

 PBH Free Fringe, Globe Bar, 4-24 Aug, 8:30pm, Free - book tickets here 

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Beth Vyse as Olive Hands: The Hands that Rocked the Cradle (★★★★)

Daytime TV has never been so compelling

We said: "it’s incredibly slick and put together with some fantastic pieces of editing, there's an 'appearance' from Sir David Jason and the most affecting tape measure you’ll ever come across."

Monkey Barrel Comedy Club (Room Two), 1-26 Aug (not 15), 3:45pm, £5/PWYW - buy tickets here 

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Harriet Kemsley: Slutty Joan (★★★★)

A masterful hour by Harriet Kemsley from start to finish

We said: "It doesn’t take long though to realize that Kemsley had been building, and by the end you understand that all the pieces matter. 

PBH Free Fringe, Voodoo Rooms (French Quarter), 4-25 Aug (not 13), 5:55pm, Free - book tickets here

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Róisín and Chiara: Back to Back (★★★★)

A high energy hour of improvisation and sketches from a pair fizzing with chemistry

We said: "Back to Back is a whirlwind of ‘whaaaat?’. Mostly surreal, at times alarming, but always brilliant."

Heroes, Boteco, until 26 Aug (not 8, 15 & 22), 2.40pm, £5/PWYW – pre-book tickets here

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Lucy Pearman: Fruit Loop (★★★★)

Lucy Pearman’s sophomore show is a delight from start to finish

We said: "The narrative follows a worm who wants to learn how to fly – cue some absolutely choice costume changes which gain Pearman huge laughs before she even needs to make a sound. She is a performer brimming with charisma, and her magic shines through most in the moments of wardrobe malfunctions, confusion and the like.

Monkey Barrel Comedy Club (Room Two), 2-27 Aug (not 14, 15), 6.30pm, £6/PWYW - buy tickets here

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Lou Sanders: Shame Pig (★★★★)

Lou Sanders is at her shameless best in her new show at Monkey Barrel

We said: "She rings laughs from any and all subjects, telling of her own shameful exploits so we feel less bad about ours."

Monkey Barrel Comedy Club, 2-26 Aug (not 15), 12.30pm, £5/PWYW – buy tickets here

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