Satire thrives at Edinburgh Fringe as acts tackle climate and politics

At the Edinburgh Fringe, the world's largest arts festival, comedians are confronting a news cycle that often feels stranger than fiction. With more than 4,000 shows running, this year's lineup includes a range of satirical acts that take aim at climate change, geopolitics, and the very idea of political parody.

One of the enduring questions is whether satire still works when reality outdoes it. The long-running sketch show News Review, now featuring a stand-in for the Prime Minister, addresses this directly. A performer playing Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, joked about having to rewrite material after recent political events. "There's so much going on in the world, you know. You need voices like ours," he said, adding that politicians "are a bit of idiots sometimes."

Among the breakout stars is Ayoade Bamboye, who made her Fringe debut last summer and has already won the Best Newcomer Award in 2025. Her shows are now sold out. She spoke about the emotional moment of receiving the award, but also highlighted the financial barriers facing many artists. "There's a cost to imagination and there's a cost to following your dreams. And the cost here is really high," she said, noting that posters on the street often feature a "very specific composition" of faces, which makes it harder for black, brown, and working-class performers who do not have large sums to spare.

British-Palestinian comedian Sammy Abby Warder is drawing critical praise for his show Hates You, which challenges the idea that hate belongs only to the far right. He argues that people on the left have abandoned hate as a legitimate emotion and political tool. "I hate Nazis. And I don't think that's a controversial thing to say," he said, while acknowledging that some debate spheres might disagree.

Climate change is also getting the satirical treatment. The show Ham, by creators Mary Higgins and Elle Potter, describes itself as a "kinky eco-hijacking of Hamlet." It uses Shakespeare's tragedy as a vehicle to explore climate activism without being preachy. "We've been trying to avoid preachiness," said Potter. "By putting it all into Hamlet, the character? Yeah, you use the Shakespeare as a vessel to put that preachy energy." The show, which is transferring to Soho Theatre, turns into a "sordid wrestle between a vegan and a sausage lover," and has surprised its creators with how much comedy has emerged from a serious subject.

The Fringe remains a place where satire can adapt. As one presenter put it, "whether it's climate, geopolitics, or Burnham's Manchesterism, satire is alive and thriving at the Fringe."