Edinburgh Fringe Review 18th August 2026

Old school comedy with a sharp edge.

Fresh from the well heeled runway of Drag Race, Kate Butch arrives in Edinburgh with an hour of comedy. There are no songs and no extravagant production numbers, but that is perfectly all right. Kate needs neither.

She holds the stage with the assurance of a snake wrangler, deftly wrestling topics and audience asides into submission. Her quick wit makes the evening feel spontaneous without ever seeming uncontrolled. Even the most casual detour is skilfully drawn back into the show.

There are jokes about the familiar jokes and clichés of the Fringe. They are knowingly on the nose, although Kate’s delivery and sense of timing ensure they still land. Some old school humour about foreign languages feels decidedly dodgy, but Kate carries it with such confidence that the audience remains firmly with her.

Kate also recounts instances of homophobia, moving from childhood bullying to the abuse she receives online. She mines these painful experiences for comedy without diminishing their ugliness. The material is sharp and revealing, balancing moments of vulnerability with beautifully judged punchlines.

Her reflections on her own shortcomings and her attempts to become a better person give the hour more substance than its proverbs, sequins and deliciously silly wordplay might initially suggest.

Above all, this is a demonstration of formidable stage presence. Kate is charismatic, intelligent and exceptionally comfortable in front of a crowd. She may have made her name in drag, but this assured hour confirms that she is, first and foremost, a seriously good stand up comedian.

Show	Kate Butch: A Kate in the Hand is Worth Two in the Butch
Dates & Times	This reviewed run has ended.
Venue	King Dome at Pleasance Dome
Production Company	Lee Martin for Gag Reflex
Original Fringe Link	Edinburgh Fringe

Disclosure: I attended with a complimentary press ticket.