GIRLZ - Edinburgh Fringe Review

Review by Mark and Aimee

Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review.

Returning to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe following its acclaimed 2025 debut, Girlz returns bigger, bolder, and visibly upgraded for a larger venue. Written and scored by Daf Hughes, the new original British musical takes a whirlwind look at the mechanics of the modern pop machine, exposing the messy reality hidden beneath glossy choreography and chart-topping harmonies.

Photo by Pamela Raith

The plot covers one high-stakes year in the life of a newly manufactured five-piece girl band. At the centre is Nicky (Meggie Hughes), a grounded lead whose sudden ascent threatens to pull her away from her indie-musician boyfriend, Adam (Tomas Baines). Steering their path to stardom is Dan Cashman (played with sleazy, Simon Cowell-esque arrogance by Lee Docherty), a manipulative music executive who views art strictly as a commodity.

The rest of the quintet represents a mix of distinct archetypes: Alex (Tamara Tare), who hides past trauma behind substance abuse; Charlie (Abigail Wiltshire), the rebellious soul; Kim (Dani Mirels), the experienced veteran keeping the group grounded; and Jaz (Zoe Antoniou), the wide-eyed optimist. Behind the glitter, the show confronts real-world pressures including toxic management, mental health, and the sacrifices demanded by the industry.

Every performer, particularly the 5 band members, impresses. Each character has their own unique journeys and life difficulties, but each is warm and affable. The vocals and the harmonies are tight and polished. Dochetry also impresses, and he clearly relishes his role as the villain of the piece.

Where Girlz undeniably shines is in its soundtrack and performance power. Hughes’ original songs bypass generic musical theater tropes to deliver genuinely catchy, radio-ready pop and rock hooks highlighted by the group’s debut single, "Just 3 Minutes."

This abridged 60-minute version for the Fringe means the show feels occasionally rushed. Certain storylines seem to end abruptly before the narrative can be fully fledged. It would be interesting to see if this is resolved in the full version of the show. 

Photo by Pamela Raith

Girlz could and should go on to be a real crowd favourite. This abridged version already feels slick, and with the chance to develop the storylines to their full potential, it would definitely be a benefit. In this form, .

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Shantify runs at Wine Bar at Palais du Variété at Assembly George Square Gardens until Sunday 30th August 2026. For tickets visit https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/shantify