The Edinburgh Fringe brings in performances from all over the world, and this year, Spanish theatrical company Yllana have delivered their inspired flamenco comedy show Flamenc Oh!!.
If you have never seen a show with such a description before, you’re not alone. I really had no idea what to expect when I walked in the beautiful Music Hall at Assembly Rooms, other than some great flamenco music and dancing, beautiful outfits and laughs along the way. They certainly delivered on all these fronts, but there was a heart to the show that I could have never anticipated.
Flamenc Oh!! is a show that looks at how modern society is changing long formed norms and traditions across the generations. It’s a show about being yourself, no matter the consequences. And yes, it’s a show about flamenco. And it’s all achieved with little to no dialogue; some English language narration adding context in select moment.
Now, before I continue, I will say there are quite a lot of spoilers in this article. So if anything I’ve written so far piques your interest in the show, and you know you’ll have a chance to see the production, stop now. Because there was a joy in seeing it all play out without any prior knowledge. But for the rest of you, read on.
Flamenc-Oh!! is a musical story about a flamenco family who are readying a moment of change, represented by the patriarch’s cane. While traditionally, that cane, and the flamenco traditions that come along with it, are passed down to the son, changing societal norms mean that a daughter may also be its heir. And so here, the son and the daughter fight for their father’s approval whilst also trying to bring new sounds and spirit into the artform. Much to the patriarch’s initial disapproval.
An attractive and phenomenal flamenco guitarist (Luis Gallo) joins them on this journey, adding classics like Prince’s “Purple Rain” and Gershwin’s “Summertime” into the mix, and inspiring singalongs with the crowd. The father brings a stop to that wherever he can. Saying simply “flamenco!” any time they deviate from the norms of the artform he and his wife have presumably dedicated their lives to. Slowly but surely, across the hour show, he softens to the change, as does his own stoic demeanor.
The story of this show ultimately belongs to the patriarch, played by singer David Bastidas. It starts with him singing with beauty and power in the crowd, stamping his cane to demand our attention, and the respect of his family. And it’s him who is most changed by its end, revealing his true self that was hiding under that mask all along. His moment of discovery, of letting go of the expectations he had set for himself – following the traditions set before him – is poignant and beautiful. It was hard not to tear up at his performance. And what a voice he has.
His story is what makes this show the one that will sit with me the longest out of my Fringe experiences this year. And I’m sure it’s something that’s breaking many a taboo in the culture. But that’s far from the only story told here. You’ve got the son, who proves to be a bit of a bumbling fool – though an impressive flamenco dancer, impassioned by his need for his father’s approval – and a fear of his retribution. He’s also desperate to win the cane over his sister, who herself is a phenomenal dancer, and less the fool than her brother. At least when she’s not fawning over the beautiful guitarist, who seems more pre-occupied flirting with the crowd.
There is a lot of crowd interaction, with plenty a clap-along along the way. Almost too much – our hands were exhausted by its end. But this sits only further as a testament to the skill on the stage, with the quintet’s dancing and music carrying the show.
Where I find myself critical of the show is that it was trying to be too many things, in such a short amount of time. Though his flirtations with the audience were enjoyable, the “love” story between the guitarist and the daughter felt out of place with the rest of the show. In a longer version, that storyline might work, but with just an hour in its Fringe form, its absence would give room for other moments to breathe.
The cartoonish portrayals of some of the characters, especially the son and daughter, may be designed to bring laughs, but were often too over-the-top for me. I digress that this element is likely more representative of a sort of Spanish soap opera vibe they’re going for, so it may play well for other audiences, but for me it took away from some of the more poignant moments of the show.
In spite of these minor criticisms, this is truly an impressive show, with laughs, fantastic flamenco dancing, and a cross-generational theme I won’t soon forget. Nor will I the singing voice of the father – that man has range, projecting with skill and intensity. He demands your attention, and his story is truly a beautiful one.
Go in with an open mind, and prepare to get whisked away into another world. Just make sure your hands are ready to join in and clap along. You will need all the energy you can muster to take part.
THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Flamenc Oh!! continues at the Music Hall at Assembly Rooms during the Edinburgh Fringe until 30th August. For tickets and more details head HERE.
The author attended the production as a guest on 12th August 2026.
Photos by Javier Naval and Pablo Orente.
