Birdy made it along to the premium Fringe venue of the Voodoo Rooms, for Fringe favourites The Creative Martyrs. They’ve been doing this malarkey for 16 years, don’t you know (or since 1883, depending on who you believe).
I’m going to begin this review by stating that The Creative Martyrs – Jakob and Gustav – have a special place in my heart; harkened back from much earlier Edinburgh Fringe days spent with people very dear to me, thoughts of the Martyrs always hold fond memories.
We also have a wee bit of banter when I go to their shows. But have I ever reviewed them? Never. Why now? Well, I thought I’d get over myself a bit, be polite and just ask them. Plus, I see them as one of the underrated shows of the Fringe that, really, more people should know about.
Vibe
These are dark times. Armed with nothing more than a ukulele, a cello and (occasionally) kazoos and a mouth trumpet, the Martyrs are a dark, satirical and intellectual type of cabaret that will make you laugh when you might otherwise feel like you should be crying.
And if you’re less astutely aware of what’s going on in the world right now, and why you should be crying about it, then it’ll at least make you think with a side of the giggles.
I was pleased when I learned The Martyrs would be performing at the Voodoo Rooms this year, as it’d been a while; but that’s also a double-edged sword. On the one hand, there aren’t random bar goers who are just there for a drink constantly interrupting the show (as I’ve witnessed in the past). On the other, getting a packed room can be a little more challenging.
The show itself
I was delighted that for Serious Satirical Silliness we were treated to some classic Martyrs bangers such as War Whore (yay! I’ve wanted to hear that one again for a while), The List, Ban Those Books, Fascist Love Song, Good Intentions and The End of the World. (I did notice some updates in there, too)
But wait… is it because all of these songs are feeling even more relevant than usual in 2025? Uh-oh. And whilst we were all starting to think about the upcoming apocalypse, another very silly addition to the set was the Zombies song, which featured a bit of extra, hilarious audience participation.
Jakob and Gustav bring such a fun, intriguing and sometimes mischievious energy to the stage. 100% in character, they tell stories not only with their music, but with their facial expressions and gestures that make them simply a joy to watch. Both are very musically skilled, but did I particularly noticed Gustav going a bit harder on the cello this time? Either way, I appreciated.
Another noticeable difference this year was the lack of one of their newer songs, Doomscrolling – but maybe there’s so much doom at the moment, even singing about scrolling through it doesn’t appeal.
If you’ve been paying attention and wondering why I haven’t said ‘Jakob, played by **** *******’ or ‘Gustav, a role nailed by ****** *****’ then you’re not wrong. Who are the Martyrs? Does anyone know? There’s a certain air of mystery these gents seem to wish to maintain. Who am I to deny that?
They’re clearly some kind of ancient beings… some type of cryptids, perhaps.
Overall
We all need a bit of Serious Satirical Silliness in our lives, so I’m really glad I didn’t miss this show (having already missed a few shows this Fringe thanks to having a sick lizard). I brought a couple of friends who were first timers to The Creative Martyrs, and they both had a blast, too.
I cannot recommend the Martyrs enough, as they’re always a Fringe staple and in my book, it would be a sad Fringe without them and their bumming (bum-bum-bum, bum ba-ba-bum…)
Curious to hear some songs from The Creative Martyrs? Go their Bandcamp – go on! Off with you (and get yourself on their list).
The Creative Martyrs: Serious Satirical Silliness
Summary
A real hidden gem of PBH’s Free Fringe, with I’m sure a little bit of a cult following behind them. If you love musical cabaret with intellectual (and political) comedy thrown in, this one’s for you.
Need a birthday gift idea? Maybe our list of gift vouchers can help. Good luck!
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