One of the longest running and most popular shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the improvised musical Showstopper!. Like this very website, they kicked things off 18 years ago, in August 2008. Since then, there have been a dozen sell-out seasons, and they’ve even taken it to the West End (twice!) for which they won an Olivier Award.
For any show to have this sort of longevity at the Fringe is impressive – but to have it continue to sell out, and play to some 700 people at every show, when there are thousands of others to choose from every day, only underlines its quality and popularity. And after experiencing it earlier this week, I completely understand why. This may be the best improv I’ve ever seen.
A program provided on entry shows the large rotating cast that participates across the month, with both this daily show in the afternoons, and a kids version on weekends.
The show kicks off with a host (think Drew Carey in Whose Line?), getting input from the audience for the theme of the show, as well as a number of musicals that the music would be inspired by. All this input – plus the rotating cast – ensures that no two shows will ever be the same.
At our show, the theme was “The Invention of Penicillin”, which they conceded from the outset would be full of inaccuracies. And the musicals? We had Paddington, Chicago and The Sound of Music. An audience vote led to the title of the show being called “The Sound of Pills”. Honestly, we could have done better. But off they went!
Our cast of seven, plus a three piece band, kicked off an hour long show inspired by the suggestions, with additional input requested by the host as the show continued. Wicked, for instance, was added in for the show’s finale. He also added plenty of his own directions, requiring the actors to be ready to change things up with a moment’s notice. “Continue doing the scene, but make an elaborate change on your stage position with each line”, was one example. We’d then see the actor unnecessarily move across the stage to deliver a meaningless line, which was perfect. No notes.
With all these factors at play, it’s not just the cast that have to be good at improv. The sound and lighting team have to be as well. As soon as the host stands up to deliver direction, for instance, the lights immediately change and the cast and the band have to freeze in position. Even doing this as many times as they have, the skills at play here are no less impressive.
The show they created was hilarious, engaging and filled with music and songs that make you think, how on earth are they doing this? And that’s just their genius. This cast are quick. And they have to be to achieve what they do. The band are also sensational and sound so much bigger than their three parts. Though the host does add some guitar later in the show. As though everything else he was doing to keep the show moving along wasn’t enough already.
If you come to the Fringe, join the thousands who have already seen it this month alone and don’t miss your chance to see their genius in action. Improv doesn’t get better than this.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Showstopper! The Improvised Musical continues through August 30th at the Grand at Pleasance Courtyard. Tickets and more details can be found HERE.
The author attended as a guest on 12th August 2026. Photo by the author.
