Our Town Needs A Nando’s - Edinburgh Fringe 2026

Our Town Needs A Nando’s has plenty of interesting ideas and some genuinely strong moments, but this shortened Fringe version ultimately tries to do far too much in its 50-minute running time.

The play follows five teenage girls living in a small town, brought together through a drama project exploring the place they call home. Through their friendships, arguments and revelations, the piece tackles an extensive list of issues facing young women, including sexuality, abuse, sexual assault, eating disorders and prejudice.

There are moments where the writing feels sharp and recognisable, particularly in the exchanges between the girls. Their humour, petty disagreements and brutal honesty with one another feel authentic, and the cast establish a believable friendship between the group.

The difficulty is that almost as soon as the production begins to explore something interesting, it has to move on.

This is perhaps the biggest problem with the Fringe version. The original Our Town Needs A Nando’s is a full two-act play, and cutting it down to 50 minutes has left the production feeling noticeably compressed. Rather than simplifying the story for the shorter format, it feels as though too many of the original plotlines have been squeezed into the available time.

With five characters all carrying substantial individual stories, there simply isn’t enough space to properly explore them. Serious revelations are made and then quickly overtaken by the next one, meaning moments that should have considerable emotional impact don’t always get the chance to land.

It also creates an unevenness in tone. The lighter sections are often enjoyable and the cast generate some good laughs, but the speed at which the production moves between comedy and considerably darker subject matter can make those transitions feel abrupt rather than earned.

The cast work hard with what they are given and there are good performances throughout the production. Eilidh Rose as Chloe is a particular standout, giving one of the more natural and grounded performances of the production.

There is undoubtedly the basis of a stronger show here, and I would be interested to see how differently the material plays in its original two-act form. In this version, however, the cuts are simply too noticeable.

Our Town Needs A Nando’s raises important subjects and has flashes of very good writing, but attempting to fit so many characters, themes and storylines into 50 minutes leaves too much of it feeling rushed and underdeveloped.

SHOW INFORMATION

Show: Our Town Need's a Nando's.

Company: HOT MESS PRODUCTIONS

Venue: TheSpace on the Mile

Rating: ★★★