Jess Robinson: Your Song – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Jess Robinson: Your Song continues at Piccolo Tent at Assembly George Square Gardens until 24 August 2025.

Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩

Jess Robinson greets every audience member like a friend – she’s very good at this, putting people at their ease, then strapping us all in for a trip round many of Elton John’s songs (including her favourite!) It’s just the show for you if you’ve ever longed to hear Britney Spears sing ‘Bennie and the Jets’ as it segues into ‘One More Time’.

Alongside Britney a who’s who of outstanding female voices are competing to be the next to sing. Amongst the ‘girls in her head’ are some of the most recognisable vocalists of our time.

Accompanied by the remarkable Matthew Floyd Jones, who is also the musical director, these are as safe a pair of hands as you could hope for. Floyd Jones is very much ‘in the background’ with Robinson performing party trick after party trick as the voices flow.

The Liza Minnelli moments of her preparing to audition for Rafiki in The Lion King are supremely silly and hilarious. Brilliantly performed.

Several songs into the show, Amy Winehouse is conjured up to sing her version of ‘Tiny Dancer’. With one hand elegantly expressive, the other held low as she clenches at her skirt in a nervy habit, this goes beyond simply being an impressionist. The way Robinson sets the song up and then inhabits it just as Winehouse might’ve done is a surprisingly tender and emotional moment.

Not all of her ‘girls’ are actual singers – thankfully Liz Truss and Theresa May have somewhat fleeting appearances! Her biggest party trick is singing through a huge cast of starry women at breakneck speed. The performance I saw included (along with many more) Marge Simpson, Lorraine Kelly and Kylie – a total treat.

Her buffon skirt and silver platform boots, topped off with a liberal dose of sparkles crackle with her passion and energy. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to return and see her again – and Barbra, and Liza, and Kate, and Shirley, and Billie…

Fiona Orr