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!
BearGirl
Location: Assembly Roxy – Roxyboxy (Venue 139)
Dates: Aug 5th-16th, 18th-23rd, 25th-31st
Time: 16:20
Price: £15 Concessions £14
Ticket Link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/beargirl
Hello! Tell us all about your show!
Bear suits, bereavement and big scary feelings… Oh my. When a grief-stricken widow struggles to cope with her husband’s death, she finds comfort by donning a bear costume. Thus, BearGirl is born: an unfeeling, thick-skinned beast who doesn’t care what happens to her next. But when the voice of her lost love starts to haunt her, she’s reminded of a past mistake that she desperately wants to outrun. Can BearGirl ever truly disappear? Or will reality turn predator into prey? A new play about making peace with the beast within, written after The Bear by Anton Chekhov (1888).
BearGirl is a new play by me, Emery Schaffer, directed by Kate Stamoulis premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe 2026. The play is Runner Up to Assembly’s prestigious ART Award and is produced by Hey Thanks! Theatre Collective, an emerging Edinburgh based theatre company championing women and queer voices.
What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at the fringe?
We’re super excited to see the ART Award winning show PROPHETS by Jack McGregor! Their show is directly after ours so if you want to catch BearGirl be sure to catch their show right after (Barbenheimer who?). We also are so excited to see the Creepy Boy’s new WIP show at Summerhall since SLUGS was our favorite show last year! Another honourable mention is Briony Martha’s Parasocial Activity.
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 year will be Kate’s fifth Fringe so she definitely has a lot of tips on surviving the month! In no particular order; remember to eat a vegetable once in a while, drink lots of water, and take breaks if you need to! For Emery, this is her third Fringe in a row and her first one with Assembly. If she has any advice, it’s to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the month, and if things are beginning to feel stressful, take a step back. Maybe a walk up Arthur’s seat or Calton Hill. Something to clear your head and help you keep going!
Talk us through your daily routine for a day at the Fringe
Though of course every day at the Fringe is totally different from the last, our days usually look like this: wake up, eat a good breakfast, caffeinate (for Kate it’s an iced latte, for Emery a strong black tea), then a quick glance at the days schedule. Usually, we are both in town by 12 seeing shows and connecting with other artists! By the time our show rolls around, we are in the theatre usually a few minutes before to connect with our team and set ourselves up for an amazing show! In the evening, Emery likes to try to get a good walk with her dog in to unwind from the busy day.
Ok, where is your favourite place to eat at the Fringe?
That is a nearly IMPOSSIBLE question. For Emery, it is probably the cubano stand at George Square. For Kate, it’s Ikagai Ramen on South Bridge
Best thing about performing at the fringe?
Where to start? The liveliness of the city, the feeling of having produced your work to show to others, the sense of community the festival brings to artists and to the city itself, and the amount of theatre, dance, and performance art there is to see! The Fringe is a time for artists to truly step into what they love, which is, to us, the best feeling in the world.
Do you bring anything special from home to make it feel more special whilst you are away?
Kate and Emery are actually two Edinburgh locals, so Edinburgh is their home! That being said, Emery likes to save some of her Trader Joes snacks that she hoards back from her visits to see her family for moments where she is in particular need of self care, and Kate stockpiles Annie’s Mac & Cheese. e.
What are your best hacks to save money whilst at the Fringe?
Bring your lunch with you! Not only will this save you money, but we are always so thankful to our past selves when we’ve packed something healthy and nourishing to get us through long days. It’s fun to try all the brilliant food vendors during Fringe, but bringing your lunch a few days a week is a great way to save money and keep your energy levels high.
If people want to find out more about you where can they follow you on social media?
You can follow all of BearGirl’s antics at @heythankstheatreco on Instagram, as well as pursue all of Hey Thanks!’s happenings. You can also follow Emery at @schmemery or Kate @kstamy if you want to see what we’re up to individually
And Finally in three words – Why should people come and see the show?
Bears. Catharsis. LOVE.
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