Reviewer call out!
Æ looking for volunteer EdFringe reviewers
During the Fringe, All Edinburgh Theatre covers, or attempts to cover, all theatre Made in Edinburgh. We are the only outlet to do so: It’s our USP, if you like.
We are now looking for volunteer reviewers to join the team for the Edinburgh Fringe of 2026 and help keep our ambitions alight!
Our intention is to review as many theatre and musical theatre productions as is possible – while keeping up our reputation for criticism that is high quality, engaged and honest.
In 2025, more EdFringe productions were Made in Edinburgh than ever before. Æ’s valiant reviewing and back room teams rose to the challenge, publishing a righteous 150 reviews of shows made in Edinburgh.
As is detailed in this link, that was not all of them. You can find out more about the reviews and some examples of them over the years, all linked under the MADE IN EDINBURGH menu at the top of the page.
This year there are likely to be at least as many, if not more shows to review. These are shows by amateur, grassroots, student and professional companies, in either the theatre, the musicals, or the children’s theatre sections of the Fringe programme.
quality
We pride ourselves in the quality of our reviews. This isn’t flattery or regurgitating a press release. This is clear, well written and opinionated analysis of each play.
We deal in both facts and opinions. We record for posterity the nature of the production and the facts around it – who is in it, who helped create it, how long it is and who wrote it.
We also provide an honest and independent opinion about the production – whether it works on its own terms and whether it is any good.
We aren’t part of the publicity for a production, but our reviews help our readers work out if a show is worth them spending their money and time on.
volunteer role
It is not something to be done lightly, but it is great fun, takes you to many productions which you probably didn’t even know existed, and gets your name on a page.
This is a volunteer role, so no money will change hands (we are sorry to say). However, productions provide tickets for reviewers to see their shows, so you won’t be spending thousands in your support, just your time.
We will also provide mentoring and support in the art of writing a review. We will probably meet up and go and review a show together, talking about the ins and outs of the process.
If you think you might like to join our team, drop an email to editor Thom Dibdin:
alledinburghtheatre@gmail.com.
You should introduce yourself, say a bit about any reviewing experience you have and say what your availability would be over the Fringe which runs from Friday 7 to Monday 30 August. Just because you can’t be there all the time, doesn’t mean your input won’t be helpful!
I look forward to hearing from you.
Thom
ENDS
