Tilting at Windmills
Tilting at Windmills by John Kearns is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at Monkey Barrel Comedy. It has 13 performances listed, running from Tue 18 Aug, 16:15 to Sun 30 Aug, 16:15. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.
About this show
Tilting at Windmills is the brand-new stand-up show from Taskmaster alumni and double Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner, John Kearns. A fragmented, digressing portrayal of a 38-year-old man’s life, alluding to books he hasn't read, touching on the modern condition. Seen bewildered on Taskmaster (Channel 4), terrified on Live at the Apollo (BBC), getting through Never Mind the Buzzcocks (Sky), and implicating others on his Sky stand-up special The Varnishing Days. ‘About as funny as anything this decade’ (Times). * (Guardian). * (Chortle.co.uk).
Details
- Performer: John Kearns
- Venue: Monkey Barrel Comedy
- Space: Monkey Barrel 3
- Genre: COMEDY, Stand-up
- Country: UNITED KINGDOM - ENGLAND
- Running time: 60 minutes
- Ed Fringe Guide rating: Wild Cards
- Room size: about 155 seats (Monkey Barrel 3) — the Fringe box office sells a share of the room, not all of it
- Performances listed: 13, of which 0 still to come and on sale
Accessibility
- Access features: Accessible toilet
- Venue notes: Accessible entry: Space is downstairs in basement. Through the fire exit - 21 steps down stone staircase with handrail In the building - 15 steps down to our bar (stone staircase with handrail) and then from there 16 steps (wooden staircase with handrail) Stairs: 11- 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 1 published review 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.
You will probably know John Kearns from his trademark monkish wig, big glasses and outrageously prominent front teeth. He laments this self-imposed gimmick when meeting ventriloquist Nina Conti, bemoaning this curse.
Performance dates and ticket availability
- Tue 18 Aug, 16:15 — Already performed — £16.00
- Wed 19 Aug, 16:15 — Already performed — £16.00
- Thu 20 Aug, 16:15 — Already performed — £17.00
- Fri 21 Aug, 16:15 — Already performed — £17.00
- Sat 22 Aug, 16:15 — Already performed — £17.00
- Sun 23 Aug, 16:15 — Already performed — £17.00
- Mon 24 Aug, 16:15 — Already performed — £16.00
- Tue 25 Aug, 16:15 — Already performed — £16.00
- Wed 26 Aug, 16:15 — Already performed — £16.00
- Thu 27 Aug, 16:15 — Already performed — £17.00
- Fri 28 Aug, 16:15 — Already performed — £17.00
- Sat 29 Aug, 16:15 — Already performed — £17.00
- Sun 30 Aug, 16:15 — Already performed — £17.00