A ‘relaxed performance’ – I’m not sure if they most or even all of the shows in this Fringe run are described as such – either way, the preamble seemed to triggered reverse psychology. An all-age audience at an all-age time of day was duly told they were allowed to move around, and if necessary, leave the performance space and return at will. Pretty much anything really, short of the theatre audience equivalent of a football pitch invasion. We were, of course, too respectable for that. But nobody, as far as I could tell, moved from where they were sat, which in itself is testament to how well this production held the audience’s attention.
This was quite remarkable given that it was, in essence, a show about various tongue twisters in various languages. Credit is due for sticking to the point, with only minimal asides about, for instance, which of the many tongue twisters was the most difficult, or who it was that introduced Greg Sinclair to a particular one. At least one contact was the full six degrees of separation. Inevitably it does get more than a tad repetitive, but again (if you will forgive the irony of me being repetitive about a show being repetitive), it’s a show called Tongue Twister, and it does exactly what it says on the tin. Those who want Deep and Meaningful, The Musical should write it and bring it to the Fringe themselves.
The costumes were colourful and the performance sometimes very physical. Rather than voicing various characters himself, Greg (it’s first name terms in this most welcoming and informal show) relies on carefully timed voiceovers, allowing the audience to hear even native speakers of other languages stumble when saying something substantial at speed. It is indeed difficult to speak out certain phrases at pace – your reviewer once failed to say ‘General Election’ properly a dozen times in very quick succession. Some of the phrases used here were amusing in translation: no spoilers, of course, except to say there was the right amount of audience involvement.
It was interesting nonetheless to hear that people find amusement in tongue twisters in different socio-economic and cultural environments. This is a show that isn’t afraid to demonstrate to audiences how there is more than unites the people of the world than divides us. A fun and engaging experience.
Review by Chris Omaweng
One man’s attempt to say tongue twisters in as many different languages as possible. Whilst also trying to dance. And make music. And do all the costume changes without leaving the stage.
A delight for the eyes and ears, created and performed by award-winning performance artist and musician Greg Sinclair, Tongue Twister is a humorous, colourful, rhythmical and absurd celebration of the musical beauty of language, with dazzling costumes and innovative visual design. Commissioned by Edinburgh Children’s Festival 2025 and following a successful Scottish tour, Tongue Twister makes its Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut as part of the 2026 Made in Scotland Showcase.
Creator, co-director and performer: Greg Sinclair
Movement director and co-director: Hannah Venet
Dramaturg: Lu Kemp
Costume designer: Alison Brown
Wardrobe Assistant: Emma Renhard
Wardrobe Assistant: Kathryn Weaving
Prop and puppet maker: Fergus Dunnet
Crocheter: Maxine Townsend
Scenographer: Rachel O’Neill
Video Designer: Lucas Chih-Peng Kao
Composer and Sound Designer: Ben Fletcher
Lighting Designer: Michaella Fee
Production Manager: Craig Fleming, SNC Productions
Producer: Sarah Gray, Scottish Theatre Producers
TONGUE TWISTER
Cromdale Theatre at Pleasance at Edinburgh International Conference Centre at the Edinburgh Fringe
8 to 22 August 2026
