The Improvised Shakespeare Show
The Improvised Shakespeare Show by ShakeItUp is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at Gilded Balloon Teviot. It has 25 performances listed, running from Fri 7 Aug, 12:35 to Mon 31 Aug, 12:35. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.
About this show
Shakespeare hasn't written anything new for an age, so we thought we would give him a hand... Using his language, your audience suggestions and our overactive imaginations, we create a brand new Shakespeare play live on stage, complete with big laughs, high drama, and plenty of Bard-based Bedlam! 'Quick-witted, inexhaustible and absolutely hysterical' * (LondonTheatreReviews.co.uk). 'Brilliantly bonkers! One of the best improvised shows at the Fringe' * (WestEndBestFriend.co.uk). 'Masters of improv, brilliant fun for all' * (TheatreScotland.co.uk). 'This is a must see' * (AYoungishPerspective.co.uk).
Details
- Performer: ShakeItUp
- Venue: Gilded Balloon Teviot
- Space: Wine Bar
- Genre: COMEDY, Improv, Theatre
- Country: UNITED KINGDOM - ENGLAND
- Running time: 60 minutes
- Ed Fringe Guide rating: Wild Cards
- Room size: about 150 seats (Wine Bar) — 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: level
- Access features: Step-free access, Accessible toilet
- Venue notes: Accessible entry: Access to the performance space is via stairs or lift then there is level access into the venue. Wheelchair access type:Level Access, Lift (Building Lift) 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 2 published reviews and 35 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.
Improvising on stage is one thing; doing it in fluent Shakespearean verse is an entirely different beast. ShakeItUp nails the challenge.
— Beyond the Curtain (4 out of 5 stars)
Welcome to the world of improvised Shakespeare! I have seen Shake It Up! several times before, including in the Birmingham Library with the wonderful The School of Night, so I was well versed in their technique 4 Stars
Performance dates and ticket availability
- Fri 7 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £9.00
- Sat 8 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sun 9 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Mon 10 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Tue 11 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Wed 12 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £12.00
- Thu 13 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £12.00
- Fri 14 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sat 15 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sun 16 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Mon 17 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £12.00
- Tue 18 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £12.00
- Wed 19 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £12.00
- Thu 20 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £12.00
- Fri 21 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sat 22 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sun 23 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Mon 24 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £12.00
- Tue 25 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £12.00
- Wed 26 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £12.00
- Thu 27 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £12.00
- Fri 28 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sat 29 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sun 30 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £13.00
- Mon 31 Aug, 12:35 — Already performed — £12.00