Comedian and performance artist Frankie Thompson brings her wildly chaotic, critically acclaimed solo show Frankie Thompson: Horrible Things to the Pleasance Courtyard during the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, delivering a bizarre collage of clowning, sharp political satire, and lip-synched absurdity running through August 30.
The Bottom Line
- Where to See It: Playing at the Pleasance Courtyard (Pleasance Beside) through August 30, 2026.
- The Aesthetic: A chaotic blend of high-concept lip-syncing, prop-driven clowning, and political found-comedy footage.
Deconstructing the Collage of Modern Nightmares
Frankie Thompson first grabbed the Fringe world’s attention in 2022 with Catts, a brilliantly timed, entirely lip-synched one-woman staging of a much-derided musical that capitalized on the post-pandemic TikTok boom. Now, she has evolved that format into original standalone creations. In Horrible Things, she vomits up one unsettling cultural artifact after another, utilizing commanding physicality, exquisite timing, and brilliantly exaggerated facial expressions.
According to reviews from Chortle, the closest thing to a clear theme in the show is the exposure of the unpleasant sides of our ruling classes—or men in general—using found comedy footage she mouths along with. Audiences witness a young Jacob Rees-Mogg revealing his early obsession with money at age 12, alongside the weirder archival memory of Christopher Hitchens recalling a spanking from Margaret Thatcher, complete with a sexual glint in her eye.
Outside of her virtuosic lip-synching, Thompson adopts a demanding, haughty persona to cajol the audience. That edge is balanced by the ghost of a Victorian governess who haunts the gig, pushing browbeaten audience members into joining the comic on stage. According to Chortle, these interactions ultimately culminate in a joyous spinning dance that spreads through the entire room.
Performance Art Meets Political Satire at the 2026 Fringe
Thompson carves out a distinct niche by positioning herself as the poster child for comedic performance art this season. The most striking sequence involves a scene titled ‘a selection of men on a park bench,’ which peels back the shady work of political party whips while Thompson smears herself in cream—a masterclass in physical clowning that underlines the sheer weirdness of institutional power structures.
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Venue | Pleasance Courtyard (Pleasance Beside), Edinburgh |
| Run Dates | Running through August 30, 2026 |
| Key Material | Archival audio clips, Rees-Mogg, Hitchens & Thatcher anecdotes, Frank Sinatra’s Trilogy |
| Key Props | Whipped-cream moustaches, Frank Sinatra hats, custom PowerPoint visuals |
The show is not without its minor structural flaws; as noted by reviewers, some sketches occasionally risk dampening in energy after the main premise lands. Yet, Thompson’s infectious energy keeps patrons on their toes. Whether she is tackling Frank Sinatra’s narcissistic Trilogy: Past Present Future album or pulling unsuspecting viewers onto her lap, she demands absolute engagement.
Why This Form of Live Performance Matters Now
Catching Frankie Thompson: Horrible Things before its Edinburgh run concludes on August 30 is essential for anyone tracking the evolution of modern alternative comedy. Have you seen any boundary-pushing performance art at the Fringe this year, or caught Thompson’s previous work? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
