George, Don’t Do That… The Joy of Joyce Grenfell
★★★★☆ Nostalgic
Royal Scots Club (Venue 241): Tue 11 – Sat 15 Aug 2026
Review by Neil McPherson
George, Don’t Do That… The Joy of Joyce Grenfell, a celebration of Grenfell’s wit, charm and tunes is performed with panache and verve by Rae Lamond and her accompanist on the piano, Willie Campbell.
Originally seen in a production from the late-lamented Arkle Theatre, it returns to the Fringe for a week long stint in the grand setting of the Royal Scots Club as one of three productions under the auspices of the newly fledged Coraghy Lane Productions.
Rae Lamond with Willie Campbell on keys. Pic: Rob Shields.
The show consists of 11 short sketches and songs, embracing Grenfell’s most well known material, now available only as grainy black and white TV recordings or scratchy radio performances.
Lamond’s single handed show bring these to life with a simple set and costumes, accompanied by Campbell for the songs. Audience interaction is limited so the uninitiated will learn little of Grenfell’s background, impact or wider work (in the St Trinians’ films for example).
All the greatest hits are here though – from Lumpy Latimer, the awkward old public schoolgirl at her old school reunion, to Stately as a Galleon, extolling the joys of ballroom dancing as a community experience irrespective of talent, to two sketches of Grenfell’s most famous character, the frazzled primary school teacher trying to control a classroom of unruly children.
contemporaneous modernity
The names of the invisible children – Geoffrey, Neville, the mischievous George of the title, Amy, Peggy – themselves invoke a bygone age, although one – Elvis no less – provides a great example of time, place and contemporaneous modernity.
The setting of the Hepburn Suite of the Royal Scots Club is appropriate for a show which consciously steps back in time to a different, quieter, and more subtle age. However, this surprisingly subterranean venue is down a number of flights of stairs and, with the lift currently out of order, audience members with mobility concerns should take care and time.
Rae Lamond. Pic: Rob Shields.
Two episodes stand out – firstly an amusing song of cultural appropriation about a London society lady infatuated with Scots and Scotland, contrasting her joy at the country and its culture with its dour, tight faced residents and wearing her tartan sash with pride to a ball “in the highlands of Hampstead.”
Secondly, a deeply moving vignette of a middle aged lady caring for her demanding, elderly father with love and equanimity while handling a whining, uncaring partner on the phone who demands her undivided attention.
The resonance of these themes with a contemporary Edinburgh audience is clear, and they are as relevant today as they were when performed by Grenfell half a century ago.
Running time: 50 minutes (no interval).
Royal Scots Club, (Hepburn Suite), 29-31 Abercromby Place EH3 6QE (Venue 241).
Tuesday 11 – Saturday 15 August 2026.
Daily: 1.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here at EdFringe.com.
ENDS
