Rating: ★★★★★
Venue: Wine Bar at Gilded Balloon Teviot, Edinburgh
Arthur Hull returns with an updated version of his blockbusting musical cabaret celebrating Theatreland's casualties. This love letter to Broadway and the West End features a motley assortment of the misunderstood, critically panned and financially catastrophic musical misfires, including forgotten gems and pleas for redemption! Best Entertainment Award (DarkChat, Edinburgh Fringe 2025). Best Emerging Artist Award (Adelaide Fringe 2025).
Imagine if Ben Platt and Brendon Urie combined their voices, then gave this love child the humour of Tim Minchin and a stage at the Edinburgh Fringe festival. 23-year-old Arthur Hull gives audiences an hour of impressive vocals, hilarious anecdotes, and an insight into some of the best songs from the worst musicals through time.
This piece could easily turn into a slanderous, divisive nightmare, but Arthur keeps everything very light and finds the positive in each story he tells. Not only is this an impressive skill to have, but it’s what makes the performance so fun and engaging. He keeps the floor open for audiences to make up their own minds, while maintaining clear boundaries that he is only here to platform work and artists that he genuinely appreciates.
Political punchlines, jazzy jokes, and some serious skill on the keyboard are what make up 60 minutes of a truly excellent fringe show. This is a great example of finding your niche, working on it, and presenting a well rounded show as a result! I would absolutely recommend finding time in your schedule to visit FLOP! and The Gilded Balloon Teviot this summer.
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