HOW TO WIN A GAMESHOW – Edinburgh Fringe 2026

There is a genuinely great idea at the heart of HOW TO WIN A GAMESHOW. Taking the familiar world of television game shows and bringing it into a live, interactive Fringe setting has loads of potential. Unfortunately, the performance I saw never quite managed to turn that idea into a fully formed show.

The concept itself is easily its biggest strength. The audience aren’t simply there to watch; interaction is built into the production, giving the whole thing the unpredictability of a real game show. When it works, you can see exactly what the show is aiming for.

The problem is that too often the interaction is allowed to take over rather than move things forward.

One section involving a debate over chips and curry sauce went on for far too long. It was amusing initially, but the joke had run its course well before the show moved on from it. What should have been a quick bit of audience banter instead began to stall the pace.

Later, two audience members are brought onto the stage as volunteers. Again, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the idea, but the sequence doesn’t feel structured enough to justify the amount of time given to it. Audience participation will always bring an element of unpredictability, but there needs to be a point where the performers take control and move the show forward.

Perhaps the clearest example of this came when the presenter stopped proceedings entirely to ask one audience member what he and his friend had been whispering about.

His answer accidentally revealed the show’s big twist.

It was an unintentionally funny moment, although admittedly the twist itself had been fairly glaring from early in the performance. Still, having your own audience accidentally announce your reveal before you’ve reached it is probably a sign that the interaction has been given a little too much freedom.

That lack of control was the biggest issue for me throughout.

There are funny moments and some genuinely entertaining ideas, but the production often feels messy and unorganised. Too much time is spent on interactions that don’t really go anywhere, leaving other sections feeling rushed and preventing the show from building any real momentum.

That is particularly frustrating because HOW TO WIN A GAMESHOW has the foundations of something that could be really fun. The game-show format gives the performers plenty to play with, and a tighter structure could still leave room for spontaneity without allowing it to derail the performance.

There is definitely something here. With some tightening, clearer boundaries around the audience participation and a stronger sense of pace, the concept could work really well.

The recurring tagline of HOW TO WIN A GAMESHOW asks:

“Is everyone having a nice time?”

Sadly, on this occasion, the answer is no.

How to Win a Gameshow played at Lower Theatre at TheSpace @ Niddry St  until 22nd August.

SHOW INFORMATION

Show: HOW TO WIN A GAMESHOW

Company: Exit Strategy

Venue: Lower Theatre at TheSpace @ Niddry St

Rating: ★★