Edinburgh Fringe Preview Shows!

Join Sharon Em and Rachel Morton-Young for a special preview night featuring two hilarious, heartfelt solo shows — I Know a Guy and Dutch Courage. This is your last chance to see them before they head to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for a month of comedy madness. Expect sharp writing, big laughs, and a sneak peek at what they’re taking to the world’s biggest arts festival. Doors open at 19:30, showtime 20:00. There will be a break between both performances.

Sharon Em: I Know a Guy

Sharon could have had functioning relationships, probably. But with hindsight and a crucial piece of wisdom shared by her mother on her 30th birthday – she finds out exactly why the odds were so stacked against her. Throw a medical misdiagnosis (her mothers), a kidnapping (hers) and a fantasy movie produced by Ryanair into the mix and reality starts to get real.

‘I Know a Guy’, nominated for Best Debut (ISH/Jones Award) at Edinburgh Fringe 2024, takes a fun and light-hearted look at the things which define us and the darker stuff we would much rather ignore.

Amsterdam-based Irish comedian Sharon Em is returning to Edinburgh with her show, which takes a light-hearted, layered and well-crafted look at a family secret that, when revealed, made Sharon think very differently about her own life, relationships and how she dealt with rejection.

"Honed close to perfection...exceptionally clever...what a bloody story!" Fringe Review (Hidden Gem)

“Hilarious hour of fun filled anecdotes...pro at finding a wonderful brightness in dark times...she shows a perfect vulnerability" Theatre Scotland ★★★★

‘I Know a Guy’ is stand up comedy with a deftly woven narrative, exploring how family, culture and early bonds influence our attachments and decisions. It’s a very Irish story with a healthy side of cultural cynicism that makes audience members reveal their own deep dark almost forgotten secrets after the show... even though they were told not to, right at the start...even given a technique to keep their secrets hidden...

Rachel Morton-Young: Dutch Courage

What do you get when a very British woman settles in the Netherlands? A culture clash of epic proportions. Dutch Courage is Rachel Morton-Young’s hit solo show that dives into expat life, national identity, and learning to embrace awkwardness with a stiff drink and a sense of humour.

Rachel’s warm and witty take on identity and belonging will strike a chord with anyone who’s ever spent time in another country and is perfect for those curious about the land of bikes, bluntness and birthday calendars!

Rachel is a British stand-up comedian, storyteller and host who’s made a name for herself on the European comedy scene with her warm, witty, and relatable style. Based in the Netherlands, she’s the founder of Mad Cow Comedy and has performed at festivals across the UK and Europe.

Praise for Dutch Courage (audience reviews):

“Delightful, insightful, and hilarious.” – Arielle Dundas

“A great show with a lot of laughs. Sharp jokes and great communication with the crowd.”

– Egon van der Lee

“Definitely the best show I’ve seen at the Fringe so far… she is really a great comedian.”

– Elana Nicolson

“Rachel slices our culture open with razor-sharp humour. Finally someone brave enough to

say why we're so strange.” – Geertje Algera