The big name acts coming to Edinburgh Fringe this year

The Edinburgh Fringe always attracts some big names to perform, and 2022’s festival is no exception. Running from 5 – 29 August 2022, this year’s event will see incredibly famous acts from the worlds of drama, music, comedy, and more appear on an almost month-long run at the festival.

Billing itself as the “single greatest celebration of arts and culture on the planet”, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival takes over hundreds of venues across the city. This year is particularly special, as the festival celebrates its 75th anniversary, and the lineup is set to include big-name acts like Al Murray, Stewart Lee, and Omid Djalili.

Sadly, comedian Frank Skinner who regularly performs at the festival, had to cancel this year’s run at the last minute due to family health issues.

Here is a list of some of the biggest acts coming to the Fringe this year.

Hamlet with Ian McKellen

Possibly one of the greatest actors the UK has ever produced, Ian McKellen, is no stranger to Shakespeare. For this year’s festival, he will perform alongside Peter Schaufuss in the world premiere of a new adaptation of one of William Shakespeare’s most recognisable plays, which promises “a whole new performance concept” that is not to be missed.

The show is performed at Ashton Hall, Saint Stephens Stockbridge - The Ashton Hall at both 16:00 and 19:00 for 1 hour 15 minutes.

Frankie Boyle

After recently releasing his new book ‘Meantime’, legendary Scottish comic Frankie Boyle returns to the stage with his new show, “Lap of Shame”, which he describes as “part of a continuing physical and mental tailspin.” The show’s description goes on to state that he “suppresses his overarching sense of futility and horror to tell jokes for an hour in the final days of organised human life.”

Frankie Boyle is performing at the Assembly Rooms - Music Hall at 18:15 for 1 hour.

Josie Long

Josie’s new show Re-Enchantment is coming to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2022 and promises a stand-up show filled with “humanity, compassion and probably some brief political rants.” Josie is a fringe veteran as a triple Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee, and her new show is sure to prove just as popular with comedy fans.

Josie Long is performing at Monkey Barrel Comedy - Monkey Barrel 3 at 14:50 for one hour.

Nish Kumar

Another huge name in the world of comedy, the former host of the Late Night Mash Report brings his brand-new stand-up show ‘Your Power, Your Control’ to the Fringe, promising to touch on all manner of topics, from the Covid pandemic to current political upheaval.

Nish Kumar is performing at Assembly George Square - Gordon Aikman Theatre at 21:00 for 1 hour.

Rich Hall

Rich Hall blends music, comedy, and storytelling together in live shows that have made him incredibly popular at the Fringe in the past. In the description of his new show ‘SOLD OUT: TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE’, he claims some audience goers attending his 2016 show “suffered fainting spells, hallucinations and accelerated heartbeats – the result of being exposed to such a breathtaking work of art” and promises to “dial it back just a little.”

Rich Hall is performing at Assembly Rooms – Ballroom at 19:40 for one hour.

A complete list of every act performing is available on the Edinburgh Fringe website, including the performance dates.