Review: Will BF – Moon Team IIIV, Fringe 2026

Will BF brings his manic, multimedia sci-fi parody Moon Team IIIV to the Jelly Belly space inside Underbelly Cowgate for Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026. Performing nightly at 21:55, the BBC New Comedy Award semi-finalist constructs an hour of sharp satire framed around the disastrous making of a fictional, straight-to-video space blockbuster sequel.

Tucked beneath the damp brick arches of the Cowgate, the cramped subterranean room matches the scrappy, DIY spirit of the performance. Will BF tells the story of Prince Apollo Moon, a self-absorbed royal trying to overturn a 1% space tax who eventually spirals into becoming the galactic villain Lord Munis. Rather than a straightforward sketch, the performance unfolds as a live mockumentary about the film’s collapse, bouncing between pre-recorded talking heads on a vintage television and physical, prop-heavy antics onstage.

Analogue Tech and Scrappy Puppet Chaos

The technical choreography carries the show’s chaotic momentum. An old television serves as a scene partner, hosting pretentious directors, film historians, and producers, all portrayed by Will BF. The timing required to ping-pong live dialogue against these pre-recorded clips is razor-sharp.

The physical props bring genuine absurdity to the low-ceilinged room. Prince Apollo builds his crew from household bric-a-brac and lo-fi puppetry: Swimothy, an existential extraterrestrial fish; Houston, an omniscient rat; WD-40, a robot with questionable ethics; and Flora, a powerful telepathic plant. The homemade gadgets strapped to the performer give the space adventure a distinct, tactile charm. Even with the wear and tear of a long Fringe run, the analogue inventiveness never falters.

Sharp Sci-Fi Parody and High Pacing

Beyond the visual gags, the writing dissects Hollywood tropes, sequel culture, and billionaire vanity projects. Original comedy tracks break up the narrative, backed by a brief piece of audience participation featuring a self-coded game interface in which front-row patrons tackle galactic hacking.

Will BF balances cynical social commentary with unabashed silliness. A fantastic sci-fi parody that turns low-fi staging into high-tier comedy. The pacing stays unrelenting, masking deep comedic discipline under a layer of unhinged, sweat-soaked energy.

Overall

Will BF: Moon Team IIIV is a masterclass in solo sketch ingenuity, converting Underbelly’s damp Cowgate cavern into an expansive, hilarious pocket universe. It skewers sci-fi cinema conventions with brilliant comedic songs, tight multimedia cues, and charmingly unhinged character comedy.