One of the fun things to do in Edinburgh during festival season is to see a well-know comedian work through new ideas that will end up being performed in venues across the UK - and the world.
Work in Progress shows are often fairly haphazard affairs, where the performers may refer to notes, happily follow comedic dead ends, and guage the audience’s reaction to different material and punchlines.
The positives for an audience is that for a small price they get to see a big name in a tiny venue deliver what is often an entirely unique performance never to be repeated.
It’s often also the case the the material has actually been pretty well developed between the listing being submitted for the Fringe programme and the show itself – equating to even more of a bargain. In 2023 Ahir Shah even won the Edinburgh Comedy Award for a show that was originally listed as a work in progress.
This means they often sell out quite far in advance, so if you fancy any of these, don't delay booking them on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe website.
Here are 18 of the best in this year’s programme.
5. John Kearns
Comedy genius - and Taskmaster favourite - John Kearns is the only person to have won both the Best Newcomer Award and the Main Prize at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards - in 2013 and 2014 respectively. He'll presumably be back in his trademark false teeth and wig for his work in progress at the Monkey Barrel from August 8-13. | Contributed
6. Rosie Jones
Rosie Jones looks like she'll be taking a derseved pop at her online critics with a work in progress this Fringe season called 'I Can't Tell What She's Saying'. The Taskmaster favourite is at the Pleasance Courtyard from August 11-17. | Contributed
7. Jordan Brookes
Officially the longest-reigning Edinburgh Comedy Award winner of all time (he won in 2019 before the global pandemic led to a three year break before the prize was awarded again), Jordan Brookes is back in Edinburgh with a work in progress show called 'Until The Wheels Come Off'. The only thing he guarantees is that he'll show up! See him at the Pleasance Courtyard from July 30-August 24. | Getty Images
8. Lara Ricote
Another former winner bringing a work in progress show to Edinburgh is Lara Ricote, who took home the Best Newcomer trophy in 2022 with her show 'GRL/LATNX/DEF'. She didn't even have an idea for a show when she had to submit a description for the Fringe programme - hence the title 'I Don't Yet Know Anything'. Find out what she's up to at the Monkey Barrel from August 11-17. | Getty Images