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!

The Flying Bubble Show

Location:   The Beauty – Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows (Venue 360)

Dates:  Aug 2nd -11th, 13th-18th, 20th-23rd

Time:15:10

Price: £14 Concessions £13

Ticket Link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-flying-bubble-show

Tell us about yourself 

My name is Maxwell, I’m 31 and I was born in South Africa. I grew up in Grahamstown, where the National Arts Festival—the African Fringe—is held every year. I grew up with that. I loved it. I dreamed about being a performer. I performed at the Fringe as a child as part of my dance school. I worked as a photographer for the Fringe when I was younger, and I was a waiter for the Fringe as a teenager.

My life revolved around the Fringe—it meant a lot to me. It gave me so much, and I really love what Fringe festivals do—not just for artists, but for families, for kids, for everyone. It was huge for me. Some of my strongest memories are from that time. 

Tell us about your show. 

I’ve been doing bubble shows for 10 or 11 years now. I started doing Fringes a few years in, and it all began with one trick—a levitation trick with a bubble. It’s a meditative, Tai Chi-like motion that makes the bubble float. I started doing it so much that I began to imagine what it would be like to float while doing it myself. That’s where the flying bubble show was born. 

I already knew about a circus in India—I’ve performed there a lot—so I went to India and we started developing the show in January 2024. We debuted at the main hub of Brighton Fringe in May that same year. From concept to stage: four months. We sold out 96% of tickets.

We went on to perform at talent shows, Adelaide Fringe, Sydney Fringe… so the show is just over a year old now and has already travelled around the world, selling out at multiple Fringes. It keeps developing more and more. It’s really exciting. We’re making it bigger and better each time, and we’re really looking forward to what we’re bringing to Edinburgh—especially after the momentum and success of Adelaide this year. 

Have you done the Fringe before? What advice would you give? 

Yes, I’ve done the Fringe before—but not with the flying show. 

The best advice I got was when I was feeling really deflated. I was tired, unmotivated, my turnout wasn’t great, and I was getting too caught up in the stress and logistics. A street performer friend of mine looked at me and said, “You got this, man. Just remember—it’s a marathon, an endurance test. Keep going. You can turn this around.” It was such a simple sentence, but it was all I needed at the time. I felt like it was all over, and that reminded me it wasn’t. I think everyone should hear that at the right moment. 

Also, go for walks outside of the Fringe—get out of the buzz. Just to ground yourself and get some perspective. It’s very intense—everyone is pushing their dreams—and it helps to be in nature, to climb a hill, to look at the distance and remind yourself how small you are. That can be a really good feeling. 

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

A typical Fringe day for me, especially when I’m performing regularly, is really about maintaining my body and soul. I eat well, sleep well, stretch a lot, and do a lot of yoga. I wasn’t an aerialist or acrobat before this show. I only started aerial performance for this, and performing an hour a day is a lot on the body. So I take the time and energy to look after it. 

In the morning, I’m very one-tracked—until the show happens, nothing else really exists. After the show, it’s like an energy release—I’ve put all of myself into that one hour. The rest of the day is about resting, relaxing, maybe watching the footage back, getting some good food, and sleeping early—especially when I’m performing earlier in the day. This time, I’m on a bit later. 

Where’s your favourite place to eat at the Fringe? 

I really like the Mosque Kitchen. It’s great food, it’s ready fast, and it has a kind of universal table setup—so it’s easy to bump into other performers, meet new people, or just go there with friends. It’s quick, flexible, efficient, and central. 

What’s the hardest part about performing at the Fringe? 

Honestly, I’d say the get-in and get-out. We only get 30 minutes for both, and it’s shared. We’ve got complex aerial rigging and a specialised floor system to protect the stage and make it padded for my landings. So there’s definitely a limit to what we can set up within that timeframe. 

But beyond that, the hardest part is maintaining the love and joy for what you’re doing when things aren’t going well. When your time slot is bad, your show isn’t selling, your competitor is doing great, and it looks like you’re going to take a financial hit—it’s tough. To be behind the curtain, still finding that love, still showing up fully… that’s the hard part. Not just going through the motions, but doing it with genuine passion. Once I’m on stage it’s easier, but it’s in those setup moments, behind the scenes, where the real effort is. 

Do you bring anything special from home? 

Yes—I bring these sound healing instruments with me. They’re metal tubes that make a really hypnotic sound. I got them in India, in a place called Auroville. The sound is very grounding for me, especially when everything around you is constantly changing. Just listening to one beautiful tone can really settle me. Every now and then, I use them on myself to stay grounded amidst all the Fringe buzz. 

What are your best hacks to save money whilst at the Fringe? 

If you know people in Edinburgh, that’s probably the best way. I usually sublet from people who are away—students or people on holiday. If you can save on accommodation, everything else becomes easier. 

Top three items every performer must take to the Fringe? 

A sense of humour. 
A show you believe in. 
And their favourite tea. I really like tea. 

What’s the secret to successful flyering? 

I’m not a huge fan of flyering, to be honest. I don’t like how much paper gets wasted—people just throw them away. I think digital marketing works really well now. Even just having someone take a photo of your poster is better than them taking a physical copy. 

Where can people find you on social media? 

I’m Maxwell the Bubbleologist—that’s my handle everywhere. 

And finally, in three words—why should people come and see the show. 

Bubbles, but different.

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