Edinburgh Fringe 2026

The Joker and The Thief

1980. The Edinburgh Fringe. Sid and Larry haven’t spoken a word to each other since their double act imploded 5 years ago.

Since then, Larry has become an international star, arriving at the Fringe to play a sold out run. Meanwhile, Sid is scraping by on the club circuit, with an act built on stories about his former partner. 

So when Larry discovers he’s become part of Sid’s routine, the two reunite backstage ahead of Larry’s opening night, under the watchful eye of his manager. As the minutes tick down to showtime, old truths resurface and the pair are finally forced to confront what really tore them apart. 

Set against the raw, pre-commercial boom of the 1980s Fringe comedy scene, The Joker and The Thief explores ambition, resentment and the cost of chasing success. At a moment when stand-up comedy in Britain was still chaotic, intimate, and being invented night by night, the play examines how dreams can curdle into rivalry. Beneath the wit and comic energy lies a portrait of two performers clinging to a dream that has already consumed them.

7th - 15th August at theSpace Triplex - 20.05pm

17th - 29th August at theSpace @Niddry Street - 20.15pm

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-joker-and-the-thief