Common Tongue

Common Tongue is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at Scottish Storytelling Centre. It has 22 performances listed, running from Fri 7 Aug, 14:45 to Mon 31 Aug, 14:45. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.

About this show

Common Tongue is a play aboot imperfect Scots. A fast-paced, riotous one-person show exploring the impact of language, identity and their intersections in Scotland. Bonnie’s life has been defined by words; the right ones, the wrong ones and the ones used against her. Now, Bonnie has a chance to speak about it. But she’s not really sure what she’s going to say, or how she’s going to say it. Written and directed by Fraser Scott, this ‘quick-witted, damning, and gorgeous’ (* CorrBlimey.uk) play is delivered with deft humour and big heart.

Details

  • Venue: Scottish Storytelling Centre
  • Space: Netherbow Theatre
  • Genre: THEATRE, Comedy, Solo show
  • Country: UNITED KINGDOM - SCOTLAND
  • Running time: 70 minutes
  • Room size: about 99 seats (Netherbow Theatre) — the Fringe box office sells a share of the room, not all of it
  • Performances listed: 22, of which 0 still to come and on sale

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair access: lift
  • Access features: Step-free access, Accessible toilet, Hearing loop
  • Venue notes: Accessible entry: There is level access into the Centre from the John Knox House entrance. If entering using the main SSC entrance there are 9 steps up. Once inside there is a lift that can take customers down to the -1 floor which is the top of the raked seating. If not it is 16 steps down to the top of the raked seating. Wheelchair access type:Lift (Building Lift) Stairs: 20+ Number of stairs is provided as guidance and is not in addition to any wheelchair access type (lift/ramp etc) stated above.

What the reviewers said

We have captured 3 published reviews and 23 audience reviews for this show from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s own listing. The excerpts below are the reviewers’ words, not ours — follow each link for the full review.

  • Language really is a funny thing. I was born and raised in Ireland, living there until my mid-twenties when I emigrated to the U.K.

    Tony Loves The Fringe

  • It’s a stoatir, a brammer, an absolute belter of a show and pure dead brilliant.

    Broadway Baby (5 out of 5 stars)

  • The tagline of Common Tongue states that it is ‘a play aboot imperfect Scots’. From the well-deserved standing ovation at the finale, there’s no feeling of any imperfection regarding Scots, Scotland itself or the…

    The List

Performance dates and ticket availability

  • Fri 7 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Sat 8 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Sun 9 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Mon 10 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Tue 11 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Thu 13 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Fri 14 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Sat 15 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Sun 16 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Mon 17 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Tue 18 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Thu 20 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Fri 21 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Sat 22 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Sun 23 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Mon 24 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Tue 25 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Thu 27 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Fri 28 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Sat 29 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Sun 30 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00
  • Mon 31 Aug, 14:45 — Already performed — £16.00

View on the official Fringe site

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Plan the rest of your Fringe

Still building a day around Scottish Storytelling Centre? These are the rest of the Edinburgh Fringe 2026 programme's shows at the same venue, in the same genre, and on the same dates.

Ed Fringe Guide is an unofficial, fan-made guide. Not affiliated with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society or edfringe.com.