Review: 10A – The Fitting Room, Fringe 2026

Australian writer-performer Eliza Allen brings her solo show, 10A: The Fitting Room, to Just the Tonic at The Caves for the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Running in The Spare Room from 20 to 30 August at 11:40, the production draws on real life to explore modern womanhood, abusive relationships, and feminist ideals through the daily work of a professional bra fitter.

Directed by Max Kirk, the one-woman show balances retail workplace comedy with a candid look at how personal independence can unravel in an unhealthy relationship. The result is a piece that pairs sharp wit with serious emotional depth, delivering a memorable morning theatre experience.

Intimate Staging in The Caves

The Spare Room at The Caves provides a snug underground setting that suits the subject matter. Set beneath the arches off the Cowgate, the room features red, silky fabric across the walls that naturally evokes the feel of an expanded boutique fitting cubicle.

Acoustics and visibility are clear throughout the small space, keeping Allen’s delivery direct and engaging. The show carries an 18 advisory due to venue licensing rules and a brief, modest moment in which the performer turns her back to change her bra. The staging remains respectful and focused, drawing the audience into what is traditionally an exclusively female environment.

Humour, Control, and Redefining Strength

Allen is immediately likeable as Liz, setting an upbeat tempo as she shares the banter and customer interactions of retail life. The tone shifts naturally when Liz meets a romantic partner who seems ideal at first. What follows is a realistic portrayal of how personal boundaries can erode over time, showing how even a committed feminist can find herself navigating an abusive relationship.

The performance shows that feminism is not about demanding constant, unbroken strength, but allowing space for vulnerability and recovery. Kirk’s movement direction keeps the narrative tight and purposeful, ensuring the comedic moments land without detracting from the central message.

Overall

10A: The Fitting Room is funny and profound in equal measure. It delivers an important message through engaging storytelling, making it a standout piece of morning Fringe theatre.