PALS
★★★★☆ Cathartic
Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose (Venue 24): Wed 30 Jul – Tue 12 Aug 2025
Review by Rebecca Mahar
PALS from Higgledy Piggledy Productions returns to the Fringe following a successful run last year, with a hefty dose of sisterhood, impulsivity, and the realities of life as a perfectly average lassie of Scotland.
Mirren Wilson’s script centres around the spur of the moment decision of pals Sadie, Claire, Taylor, and Flor to go walking and climb Ben Lomond after a group existential breakdown over what all their other friends seem to be achieving in life. Sadie is the leader of the expedition, an experienced walker who used to go out with her mum all the time— but her mum’s now ill and not up to adventures, so Sadie makes sure to photograph them to share.
Olivia McIntosh, Shelley Middler, Amy Glass and Olivia Caw in PALS. Pic: Ray Kelly.
Each of the pals is dealing with their own personal difficulties, and what begins as an adventure comedy escalates into a wrenching interpersonal drama as the quartet rocket about the stage, bouncing and crashing off one another until things reach a breaking point.
genre-defying dramedy
PALS is a brilliant example of genre-defying dramedy, packed with laughs and tears alike. Wilson’s script, ably directed by Tanya MacDonald, succeeds in building up the dynamic of the group in short order, establishing four very different young women and the relationships between them.
Olivia McIntosh, Shelley Middler, Amy Glass and Olivia Caw in PALS. Pic: Ray Kelly.
Olivia McIntosh as Sadie, Olivia Caw as Claire, Amy Glass as Taylor, and Shelley Middler as Flo are a monumentally energetic ensemble, with excellent comic timing and beautiful handling of the transition from comedy to heightened drama and through to hopeful resolution.
Through the skill of its actors, PALS achieves the kind of catharsis that many tragedies wish they could, a faithful representation of the highs and lows of the human condition.
While not entirely joyful —as is fitting— PALS is a joyous celebration of chosen family, the struggles we all face in life, Scottish women, and getting your top off in a loch.
Running time: One hour and 10 minutes (no interval).
Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose (Doonstairs), 3 Chambers St EH1 1HT (Venue 24).
Wed 30 July – Tue 12 August 2025.
Daily (not Thur 7): 7pm.
Tickets and details: Book here on EdFringe.com.
Book here on EdFest.com.*
*affiliate link.
Facebook: @higpigproductions
Instagram: @palstheplay
TikTok: @thegalsofpals
Linktree: @palstheplay
X: @higpig_
Olivia McIntosh, Amy Glass, Olivia Caw and Shelley Middler in PALS. Pic: Ray Kelly.
ENDS
