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★★★★★
Bite-Size Plays are back at the Edinburgh Fringe for their 19th year, bringing 3 “menus” of short plays to Pleasance Courtyard during the mornings of the festival. With so many Fringe shows starting after midday, I think the concept is absolutely fantastic, providing audiences with the opportunity to watch a curated sequence of short plays whilst they enjoy a pastry. After enjoying the company’s café theatre experience at Brighton Fringe, I wanted to see how the Edinburgh version would fare by comparison and I am pleased to report that it is even stronger in my opinion. Menu 2 was a humorous delight from start to finish.
The Third Wheel by Amelia Stephenson
Imagine being alone on a ferris wheel, but rather than getting to enjoy the peace and tranquility from above, you are stuck with a couple who are about to take the next step in their relationship. This is the concept of Amelia Stephenson’s ‘The Third Wheel’ which looks at relationships and how all might not be what it seems from the outside. The writing perfectly captures what not to say to your spouse and it makes for a hilarious opener to the line up.
Food Bank by Simon Nye
In 2025, sadly we are acutely aware of the very real need for food banks and Simon Nye’s play centres on a pair of volunteers, who are preparing for a busy day of distributing donations. It’s a powerful insight into the importance of human kindness and how we should always look out for one another. ‘Food Bank’ blends light hearted comedy with very raw emotion, and reminds audiences to appreciate the amount of courage involved in accepting you need help.
Proof by Matthew Brown
Online deliveries is the theme for ‘Proof’, which follows what happens when an individual signs for an unexpected Amazon parcel. The drama is what makes this play so enjoyable, and it leaves you thinking how an innocent parcel delivery could completely change someone’s life. Rosie Edwards is exceptional in this, manically running around the stage in a towel and absolutely nailing the level of stress required for their character. I was laughing from the first few seconds and it is fantastic how Matthew Brown has taken such a simple part of life and turned it into a ridiculously amusing short comedy.
Bottomless by Thomas Willshire
A group of people get together at a café to mourn the loss of their friend in Thomas Willshire’s ‘Bottomless’. It focuses on what happens when a friend dies young and how we choose to remember loved ones. It is a hilarious dark comedy featuring a posthumous letter, a fall out and lots of alcohol, as the central characters played by Rosie Edwards, Rachel Fletcher-Hudson and Kat Johns Burke navigate their friend’s funeral day. It certainly made me think about the importance of celebrating a person’s life, and choosing laughter as a way to remember them!
Whatever, the Weather by Tom Hartwell
A right wing fictional US news channel is hosting a British weather presenter in Tom Hartwell’s ‘Whatever, the Weather’. The presenter played by Thomas Willshire is warning viewers of an upcoming storm, but the TV channel staff are in denial of the realities of the situation because of their refusal to accept climate change and affiliation with an annual chain saw competition. Led brilliantly by Thomas Willshire, chaos ensues in this very topical play. For me, it takes the biggest risk thematically, but it pays off because it successfully uses humour to communicate environmental issues.
The perfect start to a Fringe day
I can confirm that this concept is even more exciting in a big venue. It’s also a joy to see such pivotal topics being covered, proving that short plays can also be a platform for talking about important issues. You can catch the show at Pleasance One at Pleasance Courtyard until 25th August (not 13th or 18th), with the three “menus” alternating between the dates. Performances start daily at 10:30am, with tickets available via the festival’s website.
*My ticket for ‘The Big Bite-Size Breakfast Show’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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