Brian Logan answers questions about Edinburgh Fringe

On August 4, 2026, humor critic Brian Logan answered questions submitted by readers about the Edinburgh Fringe. He covered topics such as diversity, costs, show formats, and selection criteria, reaffirming his love for the festival.

Diversity on stage and in the audience

Logan rejects the idea that the Fringe is a "posh fest". He acknowledges that there is still much work to be done to ensure more people can participate, but he says there is already great diversity among artists and spectators. According to him, anyone who spends a day or two at the festival does not come away with the impression of seeing only upper-class people.

Costs and festival locations

When asked about the concentration of events – the Festival, the traditional Fringe, the Comedy Festival, the Book Festival and the TV Festival – Logan agrees that the lack of venues and accommodation drives up costs for artists and audiences. He admits that moving some of these events to cities such as Manchester or Bristol could make sense, but stresses that the mix of different arts creates the festival’s unique energy. He also notes that the Book Festival enriches his experience as a comedy critic.

Surprise and innovation in humor

Logan recognizes that after years of watching comedy, some basic mechanisms lose their surprise effect. However, he says the best comedians reinvent those mechanisms, delivering surprise and pleasure to the audience. He cites recent Fringe examples, such as Elouise Eftos’s show on sensuality and Jordan Brookes’s performances, the Comedy Award winner. Although he rarely gets belly-laughs, he still experiences a "wow" and enjoyment when watching and writing about humor.

Does the critic’s presence affect the performance?

According to Logan, being recognized in the audience is rare. When it happens, he describes the situation as uncomfortable, but notes that most comedians don’t even know who he is and focus on the general audience. He believes artists are not trying to acknowledge critics, but to entertain the crowd.

Show selection criteria

Logan admits there is no rigid methodology for selecting shows. He tries not to be overly influenced by paid public-relations, talks with colleagues, reads other reviews and aims to see as many new acts as possible. He balances this with readers’ demand for well-known names and productions that are in the spotlight. He also acknowledges that, at the end of the festival, there are always regrets about shows he missed. Eye-catching posters, like Tim Vine’s 2006 one, have already swayed him to attend certain productions, although he does not consider posters useless.

Fringe for children

Logan encourages parents to bring their children to the festival, saying he himself has been taking his kids since they were babies. He highlights the abundance of shows aimed at kids and the street atmosphere that stimulates youngsters’ imaginations. For him, the Fringe offers an environment where creativity, carnival and colour dominate, providing a unique experience for children during the three weeks of the event.

"The journey north to Scotland is not tedious, it is THE MOST JOYFUL JOURNEY A HUMAN BEING CAN MAKE."

With information from The Guardian.