Review: Jack Brookmyre – Impressionable, Fringe 2026

First-time Fringe performer Jack Brookmyre brings his debut solo hour Impressionable to Stand 4, taking a sharp look at how speech, snap judgements, and vocal cadence shape modern communication. Having built a profile voicing figures like Donald Trump and Sir David Attenborough on BBC Radio Scotland’s Noising Up, Brookmyre uses this Edinburgh Festival Fringe run to pair mimicry with provocative commentary.

Situated in the basement studio of 28 York Place, just across from The Stand’s main venue, Stand 4 offers an intimate setting for Brookmyre’s sharp vocal repertoire. Carrying a drink down from the upscale upstairs bar, the venue feels tightly packed, putting the audience within arm’s reach of the performer.

Accents, Attenborough, and Heavy Metal Nuance

Brookmyre takes to the stage dressed in a slightly oversized sleeveless battle jacket loaded with band patches, a stark visual contrast to his petite, glasses-wearing appearance. The show dives into the mechanics of voice and identity, arguing that accent and delivery now overshadow factual substance in a modern landscape dominated by brief attention spans. He tests this theory by demonstrating how regional accents allegedly filter through extreme death metal growls; even if the premise feels slightly exaggerated, his execution keeps the room engaged.

His impressions are technically precise. The Trump vocal mimicry is uncanny, capturing the exact cadence of its subject and landing reliably across the room. He applies the same sharp delivery to Sir David Attenborough, steering the bit into deliberately provocative territory. His material leans into jarring visual and thematic contrasts: he looks soft-spoken, yet his stage presence pushes hard against audience expectations.

Sharp Writing with a Provocative Edge

Beyond the mimicry, Brookmyre’s material carries a distinct edge. His comedic instincts lean towards high-impact statements, occasionally flirting with crossing the line and punching down. However, his target selection remains grounded: American political overlords and billionaire figures are firmly framed as the opposition. While some punchlines push boundary limits, the writing stays notably cohesive, steering clear of the scattered pacing that often plagues inaugural Fringe hours.

The core question hanging over Impressionable is long-term versatility. Much of the show’s energy relies on the immediate contrast between Brookmyre’s gentle appearance and his confrontational material. Whether this specific shock-and-contrast approach can sustain future hours without wearing thin remains to be seen, but as a debut statement, it holds the room’s attention effectively. For an affordable Fringe hour in one of Edinburgh’s standard comedy basements, it marks a solid entry from a rising Scottish act.

Overall

Jack Brookmyre: Impressionable delivers a tightly structured debut that showcases strong technical vocal skills alongside punchy, deliberate provocation. While time will tell if his central juxtaposition can power future hours, this initial Fringe outing demonstrates clear talent and strong structural control.