Edinburgh Fringe Festival Celebrates Talent with "The Besties" Awards

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival has kicked off its first week with the announcement of "The Besties" awards, celebrating outstanding performances across various Edinburgh festivals. These accolades, a collaboration between The Skinny, Fest magazine, Capital Theatres, and Premier Scotland, recognize excellence in theatre, comedy, and more, highlighting both established and emerging talent.

Week One Award Winners Announced

The first ceremony of "The Besties" celebrated a diverse range of talent, with awards presented for categories such as "Super Power Award," "Radgie Award," "Debut Award," and "One to Watch." The winners represent a spectrum of artistic expression, from deeply personal comedic explorations to bold theatrical statements.

• Connor McKenna took home the Super Power Award for his show "Seltzer Boy," praised for its clever and funny approach to body image issues.

• In Bed with My Brother received the Radgie Award for "PHILOSOPHY OF THE WORLD," a punk theatre tribute to the band The Shaggs.

• Toussaint Douglass was honored with the Debut Award for "Accessible Pigeon Material," a charmingly odd show exploring themes of grief and masculinity.

• Saaniya Abbas won the One to Watch Award for "Hellarious," a personal show featuring a notable David Attenborough impression.

• Johnny McKnight's "She’s Behind You" earned the Dame Good Show Award, lauded as a "fierce love letter" to a culture that hasn't always been kind.

• Kate Dolan secured the Breakthrough Award for "The Critic," a show described as a "wild assault of jokes, voices, act outs and asides.

• Alaa Shehada's "The Horse of Jenin" won the Outwith Award for international talent, acknowledging the power and resonance of his work.

Diverse Festival Recognition

Beyond the Fringe, "The Besties" also celebrated achievements in the Edinburgh International Festival and other associated events. The awards aim to be the sole recognition for all Edinburgh festivals, showcasing the breadth of creativity present during the festival season.

• Lou Wall's "The Bisexual Lament" received the Outwith Award for best international artist/production at the Fringe.

• Joe Kent-Walters as Frankie Monroe won the Radgie of the Festivals award for his bold performance.

• Internationaal Theater Amsterdam's "Penthesilea" was recognized with the Sexy Award for its visceral portrayal of desire and war.

• John Norris was celebrated with the Night Owl award for his late-night shows.

• Garry Starr's "Monkeys Everywhere" was named Best Kids Show, entertaining both children and adults.

• Kim Blythe's "Might As Well" earned the Next Big Thing Award for emergent talent.

• Chalk Line Theatre's "The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return" won the New Writing Award for its incisive portrayal of a neglected town.

Looking Ahead

With the first week's winners announced, "The Besties" will continue to honor outstanding festival contributions with subsequent award ceremonies. The diverse categories and winners underscore the vibrant and varied artistic landscape of the Edinburgh festivals.

Sources

• The Besties 2025: Week One Winners, TheSkinny.co.uk.

• The Besties: Week One Winners, TheSkinny.co.uk.