Katie Pritchard is Sir Elton Scone – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Katie Pritchard is Sir Elton Scone continues at Nic 5 (Nicolson Square Venues Courtyard) at Hoots @ Nicolson Square until 30 August 2026 (except 18).

Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩

If you’re scrambling after the true taste of the Fringe, peckish for something home made, simply need a mood raiser, quite like ITV, or it’s a bit Baltic on the streets of Edinburgh, then this is a show for you. But you need to be ready to wield a wooden spoon and… (drumroll)… bake. No need to be an Elton fan because Katie Pritchard’s character is totally fictional, and there are plenty of dough balls for Andrew Lloyd Webber fans to show their appreciation of the performer’s canine parody of Cats.

Pritchard is a natural compere. Her vocals have attitude, sometimes gushing with some practised jowl action. Red plastic recorder solo aside (which is quite a serious moment), she sees the fun in everything and everybody. It’s hard to convey the indefatigable energy of this sophisticated artist in toddler garb made from curtains and wearing crocs on sports mode. The unravelling of extraordinary comic timing, the speed of the running commentary and their impact in a small (hot) space have to be seen, heard and felt, to be believed.

No ovens turn on in the making of this show but this does not hold back the baking. The atmosphere is griddled with songs as well as scones. It’s hot enough for bread to rise. Team effort is all that’s required; culinary skills not necessary. Once you are put in your team for the games, you can relax! Not everything is about cake. Here you will encounter a wider range of celebrity singing stars.

Cheerleaders are welcome, especially in the commercial breaks from live filming when the audience can observe Sir Scone trying to breathe. Downtime from all the hype is presented through a series of consolation songs for losing teams. ‘It’s a little bit runny this feeling inside’ and ‘I’m still scrambling’ are among Sir Scone’s greatest hits.

Directed by Adam Larter (Weirdos Comedy Club), this show is a perfect outing if it’s a while since you went to a children’s party with chances to sing (or mime) and throw things. Or if you are looking to experience some immersive musical theatre that breaks the rules in a little tin hut. But be warned, you may leave ready to pass out from laughing.

Charlotte Purkis