It is festival season and that means that in the next month there is so many great comedy festivals to look forward to! This month we are looking at some of the great shows that you can see at the Edinburgh Fringe. So take note because we are going to give you all the information you need for just a handful of some of the great shows happening this year!

Showmen Productions

Location:   Check the links

Dates:  Various check the links

Time: Various check the links

Price: Various check the links

Ticket Link: The Greatest Magic Show / Adults Only Magic Show / Explosive Science Show / Circus The Show

Hello! Tell us about yourself?

My name is Sam Hume and I am the executive producer from Showmen Productions based out of Melbourne, Australia. I am also a magician for both families and adults, performing in three of the four shows that we are bringing to Edinburgh this year.

Tell us all about your show!

The four shows we are bringing to Edinburgh this year – The Greatest Magic Show, CIRCUS The Show, Explosive Science Show and Adults Only Magic Show – are all very different from one another as the names suggest!

The Greatest Magic Show and CIRCUS The Show are both hosted by Magnus ‘Danger’ Magnus – our MC extraordinaire – who plays the role of Ringmaster in both shows. With the magic show this is our 5^th year back in Edinburgh and it is myself and Justin Williams – my business partner and best friend – packing as much awesome comedy and illusions that we can into 60 minutes all the while using a load of kids out of the audience to make the magic happen!

CIRCUS has been our trailblazing show back home in Australia – being the highest selling family show at Adelaide Fringe this year – and stars Magnus as Ringmaster and Nathan as The Clown. It is a traditional meets modern day circus with classic archetype characters such as The Clown, The Ringmaster, a magician, hula hooper, aerialist, juggler; but brought into the modern day with the unique acts, lighting and storyline that emerges between The Ringmaster and Clown. We had a stellar run last year at Underbelly and beyond excited to be bringing it into the beautiful Spiegeltent this year with Assembly.

Explosive Science Show is not your average science demonstration — it’s a high-octane, one-man spectacle hosted by the electrifying Magnus Danger Magnus! A proud champion of both science and neurodivergence, Magnus kicks things off with a bang (literally) and a bold declaration: “I don’t have a PhD — but I do have ADHD!” That unstoppable combination fuels a wildly entertaining, family-friendly experience filled with jaw-dropping explosions, roaring fireballs, audience interaction, and boundless energy.

Our 18+ show, Adults Only Magic Show, is essentially exactly as it sounds – an unapologetically wild ride of raunchy comedy, jaw-dropping illusions, and a generous helping of skin. We have taken the very best effects in the business, and compiled them all into this 69 minute performance where World-class magicians meet Aussie mischief-makers; with the kind of filthy fun your mother warned you about (and secretly wants to see). There’s no bunny in the hat here—unless he’s wearing leather and begging for it.

How did you come up with the name of your show that your taking to the fringe?

The Greatest Magic Show – we came up with this name back in 2016 as we just wanted to take family magic shows to a new height within the Fringe circuit around the world. We wanted to rebrand to loud, bold fonts and colours; up the quality of the production elements within the show; and all of this of course had to be accompanied by an equally bold name!

CIRCUS The Show – this is actually quite funny! CIRCUS is our newest show debuting in 2021 and we wanted to try and replicate the success we had with The Greatest Magic Show but with a circus outlook. We were close to going with “The Greatest Circus Show” when I just floated the idea – why don’t we just call it “CIRCUS”? A quick search found that no one had done a live show with that name! So we went for it…

Explosive Science Show – continuing the trend of our other shows, we always want our titles, branding, posters and absolutely everything audience facing to be crystal clear as to what they can expect and if you come see the show you will understand just why the word ‘explosive’ is included!

Adults Only Magic Show – we were originally called The Showmen but that name just never matched our performance styles and or the show as a whole. We decided to just give ourselves no limitations and be free to basically perform as ourselves on stage in the show without having to show restraint or play out a character. Made it 18+ and the name just found itself.

What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at the fringe?

With our schedule it is very very hard to catch many other shows!! I love seeing the big named family/kids performers that are headed to Edinburgh as well as our Australian friends also at Underbelly with their show – The Alphabet of Awesome Science.

I am pretty much similar to the average fringe-goer in that I will pick myself up a programme when I arrive and circle shows that fit within our show schedule!!

Have you done the fringe before? What are the key pieces of advice you have been given or would give to new groups or people performing at the fringe.

This will be our fifth Edinburgh! We started in 2019 and then unfortunately had 2 years absent due to COVID-19, and have been the last three years with CIRCUS The Show, The Greatest Magic Show and Adults Only. This year we are bringing our fourth show – Explosive Science Show – and cannot be more excited about presenting this at the Fringe and be apart of Assembly.

The key piece of advice sounds very obvious but it is simply that the fringe is a marathon, not a sprint. Taking care of your health, eating well, seeing the physio, stretching, good sleep and all those things you would usually do at home to take care of yourself you must try and keep going during the Fringe in order to make it through!

Talk us through your daily routine for a day at the Fringe

Wake up around 8:30 to check emails and make coffee and breakfast! Then head into Assembly at George Square Gardens to set up for Explosive Science Show– our first one of the day. Straight after that, head next door to Palais Du Variete Spiegeltent for The Greatest Magic Show and CIRCUS The Show back to back! After we have finished selling merchandise and packed down that show, we would grab something to eat (I LOVE the crepe food stall right next to Assembly or the Poke bowls) and then fit in a couple hours nap before we start getting ready for our Adults show around 7:30pm for a 9:15pm show. Then have a wind down drink after pack down, try get home at a reasonable hour and do it all over again!

What is the best way to enjoy yourself at the fringe?

For me it is quite easy because I am doing what I love to do in one of the biggest festivals in the world. It really is a dream come true heading into work everyday. It’s really hard and exhausting work that requires a lot of managing, but there is nothing else I would rather be doing! Surrounded by amazing people from all over the world, getting to perform every day, it is just MWAH!

Ok, where is your favourite place to eat at the Fringe?

Last year I basically lived off Crepes and Poke Bowls. Crepe before the kids show, Poke bowl before the Adults show. It was simple but it worked and I never ever got tired of it!

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

The smile on people’s faces. It sounds corny but its absolutely true – It has always been a great mantra within our company to go out and perform each and every show as if it was your last. As if it was the last show that the audience will ever see! We give 110% to every single one of our shows – no matter the weather, or how we may be feeling, or anything else. Every show is equally important because that is the show that your audience members chose to see. We give them everything we have and leave it all out on the stage!

And meeting people after the show and hearing how they enjoyed it, what parts they loved most, hearing them resonate with ideas that you have perfected over years within the show, that is simply the absolute best!

Top tips for travelling around the Fringe and getting to shows on time?

Honestly once I arrive for our first show in the morning I basically don’t leave George Square as all our shows are right next door to one another thorughout the entire day! Definitely important to plan ahead, always plan to be early, and get used to being crammed into buses during peak times!

What would be your top three items every performer must take to the fringe?

Hammock for backstage naps.

Water Bottle.

Strong Mindset.

what’s the secret to successful flyering?

In my opinion, to not do it. We have always gotten a much much better response by sending Magnus or one of us out with a corflute and interacting with groups of people directly. Making a connection, talking to them, and getting to know them. As opposed to just passing flyer after flyer to passers-by, most of which end up on the ground of the rubbish.

If you are flyering (and we still do have a stash on us) make sure its good quality. Thick card, quality images, easy size to keep on you.

If people want to find out more about you where can they follow you on social media?

The social media for each of our shows :

@TheGreatestMagicShow

@CircusTheShow

@AdultsOnlyMagicShow

@KaboomScience

And Finally in three words – Why should people come and see the show?

We don’t disappoint.

Thank you again for all your support in reading and engaging with the website.

If you want to help support the website then you can! You can buy Holly a cup of tea (and a biscuit!)