Fake
Fake is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at Gilded Balloon Teviot. It has 26 performances listed, running from Wed 5 Aug, 13:40 to Mon 31 Aug, 13:40. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.
About this show
It's pretty, but is it art? Through magic, comedy and storytelling, Chris Cook shares the story of a faker so skilled he had to forge his way to freedom, an artist so talented he may himself be a fraud, a magician whose promise conceals a lie, and a mysterious figure who may not even exist. A story only a magician could tell. Mervyn Stutter's Pick of the Fringe 2025. 'A masterclass in storytelling' * (Edinburgh-Reviews.co.uk). 'Fake is the show to see' * (WorldMagicReview.com). 'A true joy to watch' * (The Student).
Details
- Venue: Gilded Balloon Teviot
- Space: The Den
- Genre: THEATRE, Comedy, Magic
- Country: UNITED KINGDOM - SCOTLAND
- Running time: 60 minutes
- Room size: about 60 seats (The Den) — the Fringe box office sells a share of the room, not all of it
- Performances listed: 26, of which 0 still to come and on sale
Accessibility
- Wheelchair access: ramp
- Access features: Step-free access, Accessible toilet
- Venue notes: Wheelchair access type:Permanent Ramp, Lift (Building Lift)
What the reviewers said
We have captured 4 published reviews and 22 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.
Original forgery Fake, performed by Edinburgh magician Chris Cook in a Snap the Arrow production, combines magic, art and fraud largely through the medium of storytelling.
— All Edinburgh Theatre (4 out of 5 stars)
Fake? What is real and what is not what it appears to be? Chris Cook, magician, storyteller, historian, fills his hour with all of these things and more. He goes through his show with just a small table, stool and the…
— British Theatre Guide (5 out of 5 stars)
Fake is not just a magic show but an exploration of magic as an artform. Along the way, attendees get to see some legitimately impressive magic tricks and learn a bit about the art world and Cook’s investigation of it –…
Performance dates and ticket availability
- Wed 5 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £10.00
- Thu 6 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £10.00
- Fri 7 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £10.00
- Sat 8 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sun 9 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £13.00
- Mon 10 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £13.00
- Tue 11 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £13.00
- Wed 12 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £12.00
- Thu 13 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £12.00
- Fri 14 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sat 15 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sun 16 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £13.00
- Tue 18 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £12.00
- Wed 19 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £12.00
- Thu 20 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £12.00
- Fri 21 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sat 22 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sun 23 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £13.00
- Mon 24 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £12.00
- Tue 25 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £12.00
- Wed 26 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £12.00
- Thu 27 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £12.00
- Fri 28 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sat 29 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sun 30 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £13.00
- Mon 31 Aug, 13:40 — Already performed — £12.00