Edinburgh Festival Fringe: The best shows ending this week

The Edinburgh Fringe is the world's largest Arts Festival - and while the madness and the entertainment go on for the whole month of August, not all of the best shows are on for the entire run. Here is a selection of the best performances ending soon.

Picture: Pleasance Courtyard, TSPL

Is this a dagger? The Story of Macbeth (Theatre)

The barest of props are put to clever use: a yellow duster and rubber gloves signify Lady Macbeth, desperately trying to clean up the mess. A simple tartan scarf is worn three different ways to indicate Macduff, Banquo and Macbeth himself. Three pairs of plastic sunglasses are used to identify the witches, complete with falsetto voices. And slowly but surely Cannon works his way through the entire play, depicting most of its key characters, and a good time is had by all, with adults and children laughing happily at the same jokes.

Read the full review

At Scottish Storytelling Centre until August 20. 3pm

Party Game (Theatre)

“It involves the powerful music and dance that is bluemouth’s trademark, some lovely elegiac writing about memories of Stephen’s life, and a level of invention, around the involvement of the audience in the event, that makes for a continuously enjoyable and sometimes touching 100-minute
experience.

At Traverse/The Wee Red Bar until August 20. 8.30pm

Simon Amstell: Work in Progress (Comedy)

Bringing a work in progress show (when a comedian tries new material to iron out issues for a full show) to the Fringe is a relatively new phenomenon.

However, no matter what stage of the process this material is at, Simon Amstell is always worth seeing - his comedic persona is so far removed from his earlier TV work, and the comedy all the better for it.

At the Pleasance Courtyard until August 19. 11.20 pm

Curse of Cranholme Abbey (Theatre)

“One thing you can’t accuse this ghost story of is lack of pace. From the beginning, the members of Young Pleasance alternate between the three eras, laying out the stories and cutting ever quicker. By the climax, the worlds are intersecting like a Venn diagram of horror.”

At Pleasance Courtyard until August 19. 3.30pm

Justin Moorhouse: People and Feelings

The Manchester comedian, who has flown under the radar with well-received if not blockbuster performances at the Fringe over the past few years after stepping out of the considerable shadow of Peter Kay, who gave Moorhouse his big break with a starring role in Phoenix Nights.

Moorhouse, who has a considerable following on social media to add to his critical acclaim, brings a new show to the Fringe this weekend with a well crafted performance that is clearly a labour of love.

At Gilded Balloon Teviot until August 20. 5.45 pm