Gail
Gail by Emmeline Downie is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at Pleasance Courtyard. It has 25 performances listed, running from Wed 5 Aug, 16:35 to Sun 30 Aug, 16:35. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.
About this show
Middle-aged. Middle-class. Middle England. Gail Summerfield is happy, successful and certain she has all the answers. After a milestone birthday (54), she's trained as a life coach. It involves three things she loves: helping people, watching them grow and charging them £200. She's going to transform people's lives. Whether they want her to or not. Playful, provincial and unpredictable, Gail is a character comedy that gives a voice to the voiceless: vivacious middle-aged women from Milton Keynes. Written and performed by Emmeline Downie (Brainsluts, Channel 4's It Gets Worse). Directed by Leo Reich.
Details
- Performer: Emmeline Downie
- Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
- Space: Attic
- Genre: COMEDY, Solo show, Character Comedy
- Country: UNITED KINGDOM - ENGLAND
- Running time: 60 minutes
- Room size: about 50 seats (Attic) — the Fringe box office sells a share of the room, not all of it
- Performances listed: 25, 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: Queue in cobbled courtyard. Access to space via locked lift, please notify venue ahead of your visit if you require use of the lift and ask at Info Shed upon arrival for access. 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 2 published reviews and 19 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.
In a show presented as two distinct acts, we first meet the resolutely chipper Gail Summerfield as she’s about to begin the final presentation of her life coaching course.
— The Wee Review (3 out of 5 stars)
Another dimension of this semi-political satire is that Downie (and her director Leo Reich) are both in their 20s.
— The List (4 out of 5 stars)
Performance dates and ticket availability
- Wed 5 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £7.00
- Thu 6 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £7.00
- Fri 7 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sat 8 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sun 9 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Mon 10 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Tue 11 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Wed 12 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £11.00
- Thu 13 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £11.00
- Fri 14 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sat 15 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sun 16 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Tue 18 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £11.00
- Wed 19 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £11.00
- Thu 20 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £11.00
- Fri 21 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sat 22 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sun 23 Aug, 16:35 — Cancelled — £13.00
- Mon 24 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £11.00
- Tue 25 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £11.00
- Wed 26 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £11.00
- Thu 27 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £11.00
- Fri 28 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sat 29 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sun 30 Aug, 16:35 — Already performed — £13.00