Review: Hudson Hughes – At Your Service, Fringe 2026

Hudson Hughes delivers a late-night triumph at Underbelly Cowgate with At Your Service, running in the Iron Belly space through 30 August. Playing the wonderfully pompous Reverend Derek Gritt, Hughes takes the damp, brick-vaulted atmosphere of Cowgate’s subterranean rooms and transforms it into the cursed parish of Godsby-upon-Treen.

Cast out from terrestrial television and clinging to internet relevance, Gritt arrives to televise the funeral of a parishioner named Jane Plemley. The setup is simple character comedy, but Hughes quickly steers the service into an inventive horror show that hits every beat with precision.

Supernatural Mayhem in Cowgate

The Iron Belly space serves this gothic premise well. From the moment you take your seat, the room is loaded with unsettling detail: a full-sized coffin sits centre stage, flanked by creepy dolls and ecclesiastical bric-a-brac. Gritt treats the audience as the gathered rural congregation, expecting reverent obedience as he films his would-be digital comeback.

The mood changes as the villagers make it plain that the deceased was, in fact, a witch. Hughes uses electronic props, practical stagecraft, and original sound design to introduce genuine frights alongside the jokes. The horror elements never feel like cheap gags; they are clever, atmospheric, and execute the show’s dark premise with complete commitment.

Arrogance, Audience Work, and Sharp Parody

Gritt could easily become grating, yet Hughes balances the character’s superiority with sharp comedic timing. He is patronising rather than outright cruel, turning the broadcaster’s desperation into a masterclass in comic tension. Sitting in the front row comes with minor peril, as audience members are drafted into the service to voice the villagers’ paranoid suspicions, but the interaction is deftly managed.

The production stands out because it treats its narrative ambition seriously. It is a cleverly constructed, intelligently designed, and oddly charismatic horror comedy that makes brilliant use of its late-night slot. Hughes has crafted a distinct, ambitious piece of character comedy that deserves a long life beyond the Fringe.

Overall

At Your Service is one of the sharpest hours on the Fringe, matching high-calibre character work with genuine supernatural chills. Hudson Hughes has delivered a must-see production that establishes him as a major comic talent.