Edinburgh Festival and Fringe 2017 reviews round-up

Wondering what on earth to choose between as you tramp the streets of the festival? These are our highlights so far.

STANDUP

Athenu Kugblenu, Underbelly Med Quad ★★★ Strong debut hour of political and identity comedy

Cally Beaton, The Caves ★★★★ Single motherhood, autism, sex with women, the corporate world: original and clever

Dad’s Army Radio Hour, Pleasance Dome ★★★ Scripts of born-again sitcom classic delivered with real light and shade

Darren Harriott, Pleasance Courtyard ★★★ Extrovert with strong material on politics and personal history

Elliot Steel, Gilded Ballroom ★★ Slacker lad's tales from the son of Mark Steel is definitely one for the millennials

Hannah Gadsby, Assembly George Square ★★★★ an astonishing, coruscating and original hour, avowedly Gadsby's last in stand-up

Ingrid Oliver, Pleasance Courtyard ★★★★ One half of comedy duo goes solo with fine satire of political speechifying

Ivo Graham, Pleasance Courtyard ★★★ Appealing and fresh-faced Etonian geek could dwell more on privilege

Jarlath Regan, Tron ★★★★ An expert storyteller and a beautifully constructed show

Jayde Adams, Pleasance Courtyard ★★★ Natural entertainer issues a battlecry for outsiders and misfits

Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Pleasance Courtyard ★★★★ Likeable and energetic comedy about working with vulnerable teenagers

Lauren Pattison, Pleasance Courtyard ★★★★ Well constructed hour about rleationshiop break-up from promising 23-year-old Geordie

Suzi Ruffell, Pleasance Courtyard ★★★★ Energetic and charming performer with interesting take on social mobility

Tiff Stevenson, Gilded Balloon ★★★★ Polemic and passion. A fine hour

Tom Allen, Pleasance Courtyard ★★★★ Minutiae of life brought to life with exquisite attention to detail

Urzila Carlson, Assembly George Square ★★★ Everyday gags but no-holds-barred style works a treat

THEATRE

Adam, Traverse Theatre ★★★★★ Energetic, swiftly moving autobiographical story of Adam Kashmiry, who began life physically as a girl in Egypt

Box Clever, Roundabout at Summerhall ★★★ Powerful show veers between slapstick and despair to tackle the bureaucratic social care system

Eve, Traverse Theatre ★★★★ A deeply personal, autobiographical work from Jo (formerly John) Clifford on the challenges of transgender

Flight, Church Hill Theatre Studio ★★★★ Vox Motus refugee puppet show quite unlike anything else in Edinburgh this year, packs an emotional punch

Meet Me at Dawn, Traverse Theatre ★★★★★ Zinnie Harris's restrained but crushingly powerful reflection on love, loss, grief

Nassim, Traverse Theatre ★★★★★ Profound and warmly moving exploration of Iran-born Nassim Soleimanpour’s own identity, restrained yet quietly shattering

Pike St, Roundabout at Summerhall ★★★★ Near-miraculous telling of a panoply of Lower East Side stories by Nilaja Sun

Sugar Baby, Roundabout at Summerhall ★★★ Story of drug-dealing softie - crackling solo energy and provocative entertainment from Welsh company Dirty Protest

The Divide, King's Theatre ★★★ Alan Ayckbourn's vast dystopian fantasy feels cosy rather than alarming

The Shape of the Pain, Summerhall ★★★★ Compellingly empathetic play about a woman suffering from lifelong pain with no physical cause

Wild Bore, Traverse Theatre ★★★★ Ambitious, ferociously entertaining assault on the concept of theatre criticism