EDINBURGH 2023: Review: KIERAN HODGSON: BIG IN SCOTLAND, Pleasance Courtyard

If you've been paying attention over the past ten years - or if you kept getting those weird ads for Prince Andrew: The Musical on channel 4 - then you will be more than aware of Kieran Hodgson.

Since his first Fringe appearance back in 2014 with his debut show French Exchange, Kieran has returned time and time again to Edinburgh with shows like Maestro, Lance and '75 (all of which were nominated for the coveted Edinburgh Comedy Award), constantly proving that he is one of the most talented comedians of his generation. With Big in Scotland, Hodgson only further demonstrates this and solidifies his position as one of the best to ever perform at the Fringe.

Big in Scotland follows Kieran as he recalls the event that would change his life forever... moving to Scotland. Specifically, the disappointing best man speech that led him to realise he needed to change. You see, not only was Hodgson not Scottish, but he was English, "bad English" as Hodgson would put it.

From dismissing the Scottish indy referendum to viewing Scotland simply as a "bigger Wales" that merely takes money from the rest of the UK and who speaks a language nobody can understand, Kieran's attitude towards the wee nation was one that he knew he needed to change if he wanted to change himself.

Big in Scotland takes us through this transition for Kieran, from his first encounter with a true Glaswegian as told through the catchy show tune "people make Glasgow" in which Hodgson hilariously makes use of every single synonym for the word 'person' in a single sentence, his relationship with Elaine C. Smith and an especially Scottish first Assistant Director on Two Doors Down.

Throughout it all the comedian shows himself as a deeply intelligent person who truly understands the cultures and mindsets of both Scotland and England, allowing him to poke fun at the good and the bad of both nations, intricately weaving together some of his earlier assumptions about Scotland throughout the show to a great big payoff come the shows climax.

The show's set up is very minimal with a plain black stage and background with some lighting and a touch of music at brief moments throughout the show, though Hodgson's charismatic performances of dance numbers and his portrayal of multiple characters throughout the show is so impressive that it clearly doesn't need any more bells and whistles attached.

Simply put, with Big in Scotland, Kieran Hodgson has the audience in the palm of his hands. This is a show that you just have to see at this year's Fringe.

Kieran Hodgson: Big In Scotland is at the Pleasance Courtyard until 27 August

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