“Wonderfully Chaotic Variety Show that Never Slows Down or Apologies for Being Exactly What it Wants to Be.”
Stamptown returns for its tenth year at the Edinburgh Fringe. Over the decade it has brought joy and chaos in equal measures and this shows no signs of slowing down. A wild variety show that is unapologetically itself.
The show is helmed by Zack Zucker, playing his comedian alter ego Jack Tucker. He is the ultimate hype man for this chaos, building the acts up and making sure the audience is on board. He acts almost as a villain, often being antagonistic when the laughs come to the other clowns in the troupe. This only adds fuel to the fire of hilarity, and Tucker is brilliant at bringing the fun and the energy. His set pieces with some of the other staples of the show, such as Corey Peter Laine, Mr. Cardboard, Booth the Clown and many others are fantastic. All the performers within this group bring an unending energy that builds and builds, providing a thrilling show.
The show features a variety of amazing guests, who change from night to night. We were treated to the rhythmic skills of the Yuk circus, fantastic comedy from Frankie Mcnair, soulful song and dance from Moving Melvin Bragg, a fiery performance from Jazida, the brilliant comedy of Tarang Hadikar and the gravity defying skills of Donna Carnow. The show gives a beautiful variety of skills, from burlesque to circus to stand up to clowning. It captures a slice of the weird and wonderful at the Fringe and shows us it, making it a truly joyous experience.
It is a tightly put together show that runs well, with a troupe that are clearly experts in their fields. Yet it also presents as pure chaos from the first second to the last. This whips you up into an absolute frenzy and only builds through the show. In the end, we are left adrenalised and immensely happy. The show cannot be praised enough for the energy it has and the talent it champions.
It is now a staple of the fringe, and hopefully will be every year. It’ll never be the same and will never lose the joyful chaos that makes it so brilliant. A must see for any Fringe diary year in, year out.
This show runs at Palais du Variété at Assembly George Square Gardens until 29th August at 21:50. Tickets here.