The Past
The Past is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at Underbelly, Bristo Square. It has 24 performances listed, running from Wed 5 Aug, 14:05 to Sun 30 Aug, 14:05. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.
About this show
From the creators of Burning Down the Horse comes the world's first immersive historical sketch show. Get ready to be transported through the most important moments of yesteryear whether you like it or not. The Past blends Fishing4Chips' unique brand of gentle immersion with quick-fire sketch comedy, creating a show that is unlike anything that has ever come before. An absurd mix of Horrible Histories, Blackadder and Monty Python, the show puts the audience at its heart and comes with no promise of educational value. Looking back never looked so good.
Details
- Venue: Underbelly, Bristo Square
- Space: Friesian
- Genre: COMEDY, Immersive, Sketch show
- Country: UNITED KINGDOM - ENGLAND
- Running time: 60 minutes
- Ed Fringe Guide rating: Wild Cards
- Room size: about 115 seats (Friesian) — the Fringe box office sells a share of the room, not all of it
- Performances listed: 24, of which 0 still to come and on sale
Accessibility
- Wheelchair access: lift
- Access features: Step-free access, Accessible toilet
- Venue notes: Accessible entry: there are 18 steps into the venue if not taking the lift. Wheelchair access type: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 5 published reviews and 34 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.
Sketch comedy at Edinburgh can be very hit or miss, but this is one of those rare beasts where there are no misses!
— The Real Chrisparkle (5 out of 5 stars)
As Jane Austen (also still dead) wrote in Pride and Prejudice: “Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.” Get a ticket for this terrific hour of sketch comedy, and The Past will definitely give you…
— The Recs (4 out of 5 stars)
The Past is carving out its own space on the timeline of world history, and I would urge you to drop into a show and witness it first-hand.
— The Student (4 out of 5 stars)
Performance dates and ticket availability
- Wed 5 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £9.00
- Thu 6 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £9.00
- Fri 7 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £9.00
- Sat 8 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sun 9 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £13.00
- Mon 10 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £13.00
- Tue 11 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £13.00
- Wed 12 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £12.00
- Thu 13 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £12.00
- Fri 14 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sat 15 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sun 16 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £13.00
- Tue 18 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £12.00
- Wed 19 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £12.00
- Thu 20 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £12.00
- Fri 21 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sat 22 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sun 23 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £13.00
- Tue 25 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £12.00
- Wed 26 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £12.00
- Thu 27 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £12.00
- Fri 28 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sat 29 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £13.00
- Sun 30 Aug, 14:05 — Already performed — £13.00