Review: Hot Concrete – Too Hot (and Too Concretey) for TV, Fringe 2024

Want a good tip for something to see at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year? I recommend “Hot Concrete: Too Hot (and Too Concretey) for TV “.

The phrase “long-form narrative sketch comedy” does have the word “comedy” in it, but I think most brains, including mine, get to “long-form” and fear that it’s going to be boring. Hot Concrete is not boring.

Hot Concrete is a fake TV show. We’re in the audience, watching the warm-up act that the studio might employ, and then we get our two hosts. As the show airs, we have guest stars and even ad breaks.

However, there are only two members of Hot Concrete, so expect some fast costume changes. And yes, I did say “ad breaks”, and they were just as good as the perfect sketch.

The TV show idea is not just a wrapper to put around a standup routine. There is a plot! There is a mystery and unfolding drama. If you don’t like the label “long-form narrative sketch comedy”, then what about “hilarious theatre”? 

Tone

Hot Concrete walks wonderfully along a line that divides parody (the TV show), wackiness (some of the scenes), and one-liners (cobblers!). It works wonderfully well.

I’m also convinced that Henry Whaley and Charlie Billingham’s energy, comedic talent, and writing genius make Hot Concrete work. I will use the word theatre again because I’m sure both must be trained actors.

On the negative side, the high energy of the start of the show—Henry was jogging around on the stage even as the audience took their seats (all part of the warm-up act)—might be intimidating. I was at first but quickly reassured when people in the audience shook his hand. I hadn’t seen Hot Concrete before, but today’s audience seemed to know what to do and did so without nerves or fear.

The rest, I’m pleased to say, is positive. There’s nothing cruel in this sketch. Nothing is done to shock purely to go fishing for outcry.

We get a generally upbeat and increasingly mysterious show. The humour is always at maximum, and the plot gets better and better with each passing minute.

If I had a prize for ‘best chair of the fringe’ I would give it to Hot Concrete.

What to expect

Hot Concrete has a good venue in The Mash House, although there are about a million stairs to climb. I couldn’t have made it to the room back in my walking stick era.

Henry and Charlie use a small monitor to run the ads in the TV show. I was in the middle of the room and had no problems watching it, but Hot Concrete is not a show to go to without your glasses. 

There’s some audience interaction. I volunteered for some time in the 81G H4T, delighted to have my dark secrets and investigation exposed by the technology. I had no idea I got up to so much! It’s relatively mild audience participation, though; you might shake hands, wear a hat, or mime throwing something at the pair.

Go for comedy. You’ll settle straight in if you’re used to Fringe-typical standup routines. Go for drama. If you’re used to little plays running in Edinburgh in August, you’ll adjust quickly.

Overall

What a treat!

Hot Concrete might be too hot and too concretely for TV, but it’s just perfect for me.

When the Fringe 2025 shows are announced, I will look for Hot Concrete and book early. 

Henry Whaley and Charlie Billingham will make you laugh and be impressed while you wonder where you can get more Hot Concrete.